Evaluation of feeding potential of different spider species under laboratory and greenhouse conditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/zoobotanica.003.03.1572Keywords:
IPM, biological control, feeding efficiency, predatory spiders, natural enemiesAbstract
This study evaluates the feeding efficiency of three predatory spider species: Thyne imperialis (jumping spider), Thomisus sp. (crab spider), and Rukkidus sp. (jumping spider), under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The spiders were tested for their potential to control guava mealybugs (Ferrisia virgate), a major pest in guava orchards. Experiments conducted in petri dishes and potted guava plants simulated natural habitats. Results revealed that Thomisus sp. exhibited the highest predatory potential, consuming an average of 6.0 ± 0.42 mealybugs within 24 hours, followed by Thyne imperialis (5.0 ± 0.40) and Rukkidus sp. (3.2 ± 0.31). The overall feeding efficiency of Thomisus sp. was 20–30% higher than the other two species across all exposure durations. Greenhouse trials confirmed similar predatory trends, demonstrating the adaptability and persistence of these spiders in semi-natural conditions. These findings emphasize the potential of Thomisus sp. and T. imperialis as effective biological control agents for managing guava mealybugs in both laboratory and greenhouse settings
References
Ahmad, M., & Akhtar, S. (2016). Pesticide residues and public health in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 53(3) 451-456.
Ahmed, M., & Akhtar, S. (2016). Development of resistance to insecticides in the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Pakistan. Crop protection: Volume, October 2016, Pages 96-102.
Bellows, T. S., & Fisher, T.W. (1999). Handbook of biological control. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. pp. 1046.
Dich, J. S. H., Zahm, A. H. & Adam, H.O. (1997). Pesticides and Cancer. Cancer cause control, 8(3) 420-43
Ghafoor, A., Mahmood, A., & Gul, H. (2006). Biodiversity and predatory role of spiders in rice fields of Punjab. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 38(3) 235-241.
Greenstone, M. H., & Sunderland, K. D. (1999). Why a symposium on spiders in agro ecosystems now? The Journal of Arachnology, 27: 267-269.
Harland, D. P., & Jackson, R. R. (2000). Cues by which jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) discriminate among prey. Journal of Ethology, 106(3), 193-206.
Jackson, R. R., & Pollard, S. D. (1996). Predatory behaviour of jumping spiders. Annual Review of Entomology, 41(1) 287-308.
Karar, H., Arif, M. J., & Shahzad, M. A. (2006). Role of predators in mango mealy bug control. Journal of Agricultural Research, 44(2), 135–143
Karar, H., Asif, J., Saeed, S., & Ali, H. (2006). A threat to mango. Sci-tech.world, DAWN internet. 1-5 pp.
Mani, M., & Krishnamoorthy, A. (2007). Recent trends in the biological suppression of guava pests in india. Acta Horticulturae. 735: 469-482.
Mani, M., Krishnamoorthy, A., & Poorani, J. (2011). Biological control of mealybugs. Technical Bulletin, NBAIR, India.
Marc, P., Canard, A., & Ysnel, F. (1999). Spiders (Araneae) useful for pest limitation and bio indication. Agriculture, Journal of Ecosystems & Environment, 74(1-3) 229-273.
Naveed, M., Anwar, M., & Naz, F. (2008). Integrated pest management in Pakistan: Present status and future prospects. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 6(1) 1-7.
Naveed, M., Salam, A., & Saleem, M. A. (2008). Effect of foliar applications of some insecticides on Bemisia tabaci, predators and parasitoids: Implications in its management in Pakistan. Phytoparasitica, 36, 377-387. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02980817
Nyffeler, M., & Sunderland, K. D. (2003). Composition, abundance and pest control potential of spider communities in agro ecosystems: a comparison of European and US studies. Journal of Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 95(2-3), 579-612.
Positive Pakistan (2025). Pakistan ranks 5 in global guava cultivation: A growing agriculture powerhouse. https://positivepakistan.pk/pakistan-ranks-5-in-global-guava-cultivation-a-growing-agriculture-powerhouse/
Pekar, S. (2005). Predatory behaviour of two European ant-eating spiders (Araneae, Zodariidae). Journal of Arachnology, 33(1) 63-70.
Pekar, S., & Toft, S. (2015). Trophic specialization in a predatory group: the case of prey-specialized spiders (Araneae). Biological Reviews, 90(3) 744-761.
Richman, D. B., & Whitcomb, W. H. (1981). Effects of weeds on the diversity and abundance of spiders in crop fields. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society, 94: 311-315.
Sebastian, P. A., Mathew, M. J., & Joseph, M. M. (2005). The spider fauna of agricultural ecosystems in Kerala, India. Zoological Studies, 44(2) 251-259.
Serrano, A. R., & Folgarait, P. J. (2013). Mealybugs: a review of their biology and control in agro ecosystems. Revista de la Sociedad Entomologica Argentina, 72(3-4) 147-168.
Soomro, A. R. 2005. Indiscriminate use of pesticides causing problems for cotton crop breeding for insect resistance in cotton utilizing morphological traits. Agriculture Issue No.29, CRI Sakrand, pp.1-5.
Uetz, G. W., Halaj, J., & Cady, A. B. (2010). Guild structure of spiders in major crops. Journal of Arachnology, 38(1) 1-9.
Khan, A. A., Qureshi, N. A., & Ashfaq, M. (2021). Diversity and predatory role of spiders in fruit orchards of Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 53(4) 1271-1278.
Rajput, S., Memon, S. A., & Qureshi, N. A. (2023). Feeding potential of selected predatory spiders against guava mealybug under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Journal of Biological Control, 37(2) 101–109.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Shahjahan Rajput; Shabana Naz Mazari, Abdul Samad Soomro, Shah Nawaz Khuhro, Tufail Ahmed Wagan, Agha Mushtaque Ahmed, Fahad Nazir Khoso
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
