No abstract

For one year, a research study was conducted in the citrus fields of Amravati region, MS, India, to examine the diversity of agrobiont spiders. A total of 56 species of agrobiont spiders were identified during the study, which belonged to 31 genera and 13 families. These spiders were found in various locations such as ground, litter, crevices, and on vegetation. Among the spider species identified, 21.42% were from the families Araneidae and Salticidae, respectively, 14.28% were from the family Lycocidae, 12.5% were from the family Oxyopidae, 7.14% were from the family Thomisidae, 5.35% were from the family Gnaphocidae, and 3.57% were from the families Clubionidae, Eradicate, and Philodromidae. Additionally, 1.78% of the spider species belonged to each of the following families: Mitergidae, Tetragnathidae, Theridadae, and Uloboridae. The spider population was abundant in the fields, and species richness and diversity were at their highest from August to October.

The spiders  from G.V.l.S.H.  Campus,  Amravati  (M.S.)  were collected  from  first  week  of August  to last  week of November  2008,  using insect  nets, tapping  sticks,  umbrella,  pit fall trap etc.  During the study 470  specimens were  collected  from  different area  of campus.35 species   belonging to  12 families  were  identified.  Family Araneidae  represented  7 species,  Salticidae represented   6 species, Oxyopidae  and  Eracidae  represented 4 species,  Theriddidae and  Thomisidae  represented 3  species each,  families  Lycosidae  and  Pholcidae  represented  2 species,  families  Clubionidae,   Philodrpmidae, Tetragnathidae   Uloboridae,  represent  single species. The population  of spiders was abundant.  Species richness   and  diversity was  high  during  the  month  of September and  October,   the  population  of species  Stegodyphus was observed  largely  during  the  month  of November.

Eresidae are represented poorly in Indian fauna. All over the world about hundred species in ten genera are known and about 29 species have been studied under the genus Stegodyphus. The genus Stegodyphus was established by Simon 1873, with the type species S. lineatus Latneille. Pocock (1900) described five species of Stegodyphus. Tikader (1963) illustrated Pococks Stegodyphus pacificus socialis for easy identification. Gajbe (2007) redescribed and reillustrated Stegodyphus sarasinorum Karsch including male. The study examines species in a relatively diverse lineage of genus Stegodyphus, where they undergone adaptive radiation. One new species of spider from family Eresidae, genus Stegodyphus (Stegodyphus semadohensis sp. nov. female) is recorded from Satpuda (Maharashtra State) India, during 2009.

Present study was carried out to explore the diversity and abundance of spiders from Salbardi Forest and catchment area of Upper Wardha Dam, Dist. Amravati, Maharashtra, India, for consecutive 2 year (2011-2013). The study areas were surveyed by making quadrants of approximately of 10 x 10 meters. The fl oor, undergrowth, rocks, fi rewood and stones were systematically searched for spiders. Each site was surveyed from early morning 8 AM to 6 PM at the interval of 7 days. During this survey 142 species of spiders from 62 genera of 21 families were recorded. The most diverse family observed was the Aranidae with 33 species followed by