Biological Aspects of the Spider Theridion melanostictum (Aranae: Theridiidae) When fed on Aphis Nerii and Aphis Punicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) under Laboratory Conditions

Amal E. Abo-zaed, M.I. Hassan and A. I. Amer

Abstract

Biological studies were carried out on the spider Theridion melanostictum O.P. Cambridge under laboratory conditions, the study of the effect of prey, both of prey Aphis punicae and Aphis nerii, on the length of life of the full stage and the breeding rate of predator T. melanostictum obtained data showed that females of Theridion melanostictum had 5 spiderlings for female and 4 spiderlings for male. The first spiderling was shorter in their duration than other spiderlings of female and male when fed on motile stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch, it averaged 9.3 to 9.8 for females and 10 days for males. The life cycle of T. melanostictum was longer when the spider fed on Aphis punicae averaged 116.3 and 94.8 days than feeding on Aphis nerii averaged 82.3 and 63.3 days for female and male, respectively with significant different between two prey. Prey consumption was calculated for different stages. Effect of different prey on longevity and fecundity of the spider were studied. The spider preferred feeding on A. nerii than A. punicae. As the insects of Aphis nerii is one of the preferred prey of this spider for its impact on the different stages of Evolution and the rate of reproduction, which helps in the possibility of being used as one of the elements of biological control in the fight against various pests

Key words

Theridion melanostictum, Biology, aphids, food consumption.