Faunistic
and diagnostics of predaceous spiders in rice ecosystem under Terai region of
West Bengal
S.
Moses1, S. Pal2*, N. Chaudhuri2 and J. Ghosh1
1Department of
Agricultural Entomology, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari-736 165,
India
2Entomology Lab,
Regional Research Station (Terai Zone), Directorate of Research, Uttar Banga
Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari-736 165, India
*Corresponding
Author Email :
palsento@gmail.com
*ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1805-2410
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Abstract
Aim:
Analyzing the community structure of predatory spider fauna in rice
ecosystems to facilitate conservation biological control and sustainable pest
management programmes.
Methodology: The spiders were collected from rice field with
cultivated variety (MTU-7029) during both Kharif and Rabi seasons
at different rice growth stages. The spiders collected by various sampling
methods such as direct catch in polythene carry bags, ground collection and foliage
collection were kept in collection bottles and killed by inserting a strip of
cotton dipped in chloroform and transferred separately on a white sheet of
paper. Thereafter, using a stereo zoom microscope (ZEISS Stemi 508), the
spiders were sorted, separated, counted, identified based on the available
keys and literature described by Tikader (1987) and Barrion and Litsinger
(1995). The unidentified samples were sent to the Zoological Survey of India,
Kolkata for authorized identification.
Results:
In total, sixteen different species of predatory spiders belonging to six
families of order Araneae and representing four functional/foraging guilds
were identified in the rice ecosystem of Sub-Himalayan Terai region of West
Bengal. These included Lycosa pseudoannulata Boesenberg & Strand
and Arctosa tanakai Barrion & Litsinger; Oxyopes
lineatipes C.L. Koch, Oxyopes javanus Thorell and Oxyopes
salticus Hentz; Bianor sp. and Hasarius adansoni Audouin,
while the family Thomisidae was represented by a single species Thomisius
sp. All these eight species constituted the non web former group of spiders.
The web weaving spiders recorded were Tetragnatha maxillosa Thorell, Tetragnatha
mandibulata Walckenaer. Tetragnatha javana Thorell, Leucage
decorate Walckenaer, Leucage celesbesiana Walckenaer and Neoscona
theisi Walckenaer, Neoscona mukerjei Tikader, Araneus sp.
Interpretation: The lynx spiders
(Oxyopidae) were found to be the most dominant group by individual numbers,
followed by the wolf spiders (Lycosidae), however, considering the species
richness, the long jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae) were in large number with
five different species. Good agricultural practices along with habitat
diversification of landscapes are imperative for enhancing the predation by
rice field spiders.
Key words: Dominance, Foraging guilds, Predatory spiders, Rice,
Species richness, Terai regio
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