Studies on the Spider Fauna of Groundnut Fields in Gujarat, India

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Authors

  • Department of Zoology, Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar - 364 002 ,IN
  • Biocontrol Laboratory, CPCRl Regional Station, Krishnapuram - 690 533, Kerala ,IN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18311/jbc/1988/4231

Keywords:

Spider Fauna, Groundnut, Gujarat.

Abstract

A survey of spider fauna of groundnut fields from five different places in Gujarat was made from July to October during 1984-86. Altogether 2833 spiders belonging to 53 species, 34 genera and 14 families were collected from groundnut fields. They were classified into four guilds according to the predatory behaviour, hunting spiders, ambushing spiders, web building spiders and miscellaneous group of spiders, which were represented by 58.98%, 8.51%, 29.51% and 6.0%, respectively. Theridiidae and Lycosidae were the most dominant spiders and Coleosoma blundum Cambridge of Theridiidae and Pardosa birmanica Simon of Lycosidae were the most abundant spider species. The species diversity changed with the growth of the crop and reached the peak in October. The species composition at all the five sites is also discussed.