Notes on the life history and behavior of the crab spider Thomisus onustus (walckenaer, 1805) (Araneae: Thomisidae) [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The study included the life history and behaviour of Thomisus onustus (Walckenaer, 1805) family Thomisidae, which was collected from EI-Zaranik Protectorate, North Sinai Governorate, and Egypt. Mating behaviour, deposited egg, the period of development, life span, also, the feeding behaviour and food consumption were studied. Males reached maturity after 6 spiderling instars (I89.09±4.59 days), while females after 7 spiderling instars (219.10±4.22 days). Different prey types (two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus Urticae Koch, Drosophila fly Drosophila melanogaster the fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wide.) and the house fly Musca domestica were used as main sources prey. The study revealed that the spider consumed high number of prey during the 6th instar period with an average of 373.64 & 396.67 prey for male and female respectively when feeding on mixture of the fruit fly C. capitata , and the house fly Musca domestica together.

Summary in Arabic.

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