Survey of predatory arthropods in cotton fields, with special reference to effect of hexalumuon on certain biological aspects of the spider species, thanatus albini (audouin) (Araneida: Philodromidae) [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

A survey of spider and insect predators found in cotton fields at Qaluobia and Beni-Suif Governorates, Egypt was conducted from May through September 2009. The survey rt<vealed the presence of 15 spider species belong to 14 genera and,8 families and insect predators belong to 8 species, 7 genera and 5 families. The spider species, Thanatus albini (Audouin) (Araneida: Philodromidae) was the most dominant species in both experimental locations. The insecticide Hexaflumuron, which is recommended against lepidopterous pests in cotton fields, was tested under the laboratory conditions (25±1:1°C and 65-70 % R.H) against egg-sacs of T. albini, using the LC50 (1.83 ppm). The spider had 7 spider ling stages, when fed on the 1st instar larvae of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.). Their durations lasted 156.16 and 98.3 days in treated and untreated females, respectively. Respective figures for males were 138.0 and 87.5 days. The life cycle of females, resulted from treated and untreated egg-sacs was 174.76 and 110.63 days, respectively, while they were 156.60 and 99.83 days for males. Some biological aspects of the spider, i.e., food consumption, ovipositional periods, fecundity and longevity were also studied.

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