Certain Aspects on Reproductive Potential and Feeding Capacity of the Spider Chiracanthium Inclusum Hentz (Arachnida: Miturgidae

Abstract

Studies were carried out under laboratory conditions at 25 ±1 °C and 65-70% R.H. to study the effect of two species of Lepidopterous insects, Pectinophora gossypiella and Spodoptera littoralis on biological aspects of the spider Chiracanthium inclusum. P. gossypiella was the best as it reduced in duration of different predator stages, whereas, P. gossypiella increased the fecundity, as well as increasing consumption prey. While, female deposited average 134.3 eggs/sac when fed on P. gossypiella and 97.6 eggs/sac on S. littoralis, respectively. On the contrary, female longevity lasted 114.0 days, while, male adult hood lasted 75.0 days on P. gossypiella, and 135.0 days and 98.3 days for both sexes on S. littoralis, respectively. The female and male predator consumed 348.3 and190.6 prey of P. gossypiella and 411.66 and 217.33 prey of S. littoralis, respectively.