Survey of spider populations (araneae) in tomato fields at Fayoum governorate [electronic resource]

Includes bibliographic reference

Survey of spiders in tomato plantations was carried out in Al-Mandara region Fayoum Governorate, from Nov. 2012 till Sep. 2014. Collection of spiders started two weeks after planting and continued weekly to the end of season. Results revealed the existence of 42 species that belong to 34 genera in 14 families. Population densities and seasonal fluctuations in relation to weather conditions were estimated. The most dominant families were Theridiidae, Lycosidae and Dictynidae, represented by 36.02%, 21.01% and 20.62%, respectively. In moderate numbers were families Miturgidae and Philodromidae, represented by 8.01% and 5.75%, respectively. The rest of families were found in low or rare numbers as follow; Thomisidae 2.4%, Araneidae 2.3%, Salticidae 1.6%, Pisauridae 0.8%, Gnaphosidae 0.6%, Linyphiidae 0.4%, Pholcidae 0.2%, Clubionidae 0.1% and Mimetidae 0.1 %. In general two species Anelosimus aulicus (Theridiidae) and Dictyna segregate (Dictynidae) were most dominant being 32.01 % and 20.62% of the population of spiders community inhabiting tomato fields.
Statistics indicated insignificant correlation between spider populations and temperature, with negative significant correlation for relative humidity and population during nili plantation-2012/2013, in nili plantation 2013/2014 the positive correlation between populations was only for temperature, with no significant correlation with relative humidity. In summer plantation 2013, a positive significant correlation was found for both temperature and relative humidity, but in summer plantation 2014, high positive correlation was found between population and temperature only, with no significant correlation with relative humidity.

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