Research Paper Checklist of Spider Fauna in Nsukka, Southeastern

Research Paper

Checklist of Spider Fauna in Nsukka, Southeastern, Nigeria

Accepted 5th October, 2015

ABSTRACT

A checklist of spider fauna was carried out in University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2015. This study investigated the numerous spider species, its relative abundance and their distributions. Spiders were collected from four different sampling sites: hostel, staff quarters, University secondary school and University primary school. Sampling was done by using equipment like the sweep net, pitfall trap and sticks. Six hundred and thirty-two individuals which belonged to the spider families; Agelenidae (3.79%), Araneidae (40.5%), Theridiidae (55.5%) and Sicariidae (0.15%) were collected. Species recorded for the hostel habitat included: Latrodectus geometricus (Brown widow spider), Argio pelobata (Orb weaver spider), Argio peaurantia (Garden spider) and Tegenaria domestica (Funnel weaver spider). These species listed above were also collected in the staff quarters΄ habitat, Gasterancantha cancriformis (spiny backed orb weaver) and Loxosceles reclusa (Brown recluse spider) were also found. University primary school and University secondary school habitat had a new species: Steatoda nobilis (False widow spider). Most of the species recorded in Nigeria were found in the University secondary school habitat. Relative abundance of these spider Odo, Gregory Ejikeme1, Agwu Ekenma Juliana1, Felicia Nkechi Ekeh1, Esther species were determined by using the Shannon Wiener Index formula. University Nkiru Ekechukwu1, Nelson IK Ossai2, secondary school habitat showed the highest abundance 1.4547 >1.2182 > Ezea, Celestine Osita3, Madu Josephine1, 1.0154 > 0.9508 against University primary school, staff quarters΄, and hostel Eneje Victor2 and Ugwu Fidelis1 habitat respectively. Comparison of these relative abundances shows that the 1Department of Zoology University of staff quarters΄ habitat has more spider fauna than the other sampling sites: Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. hostel, University secondary school and University primary school. Hostel habitat 2Enugu State University Science and showed the least fauna of spider species (0.9508). From these findings, it could Technology, Enugu, Nigeria. be concluded that habitat characteristics, geographical distribution and 3Federal University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. availability of food played a vital role in the relative abundance of spider fauna of an area. Corresponding author Email: [email protected] Key words: Spider, Nsukka, Nigeria, University of Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria is an agricultural country and has very diverse characteristics of spider are the presence of carapace found fauna. Most of the areas are under habitation of different on the dorsal side of cephalothorax. The jaws are called kinds of invertebrates. Spider are of the members of the chelicerae and have fangs which also make them piercing invertebrates and is a dominant member of the community. device for injecting venom. Spider produces silk through However, in the past, less discoveries were made on it, spinnerets located on the ventral side of the abdomen. because, researchers see it as a less important organism Epigynum is a female reproductive organ. It is situated on (Butt and Beg, 2001). the ventral side of the abdomen of females. The trachea and The spider belongs to the Order Aranae, which is one of booklungs are the breathing organs (Nieuwenhuys, 2008). the gasping animal groups (Riechert, 1984). The important There are 110 families, 3859 genera and 42751 species of Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 070

spider described in the world (Platnick, 2012). Most people diversities of spider and there is a need for further study on see the spider as a hateful and injurious animal (Davey, the richness of diversity of spider. Arshed (et al 2012) 1994), when in actual sense they are of immense help in studied diversity of foliage spiders in two contrasting protection of our crops from pests (Fabre, 1994). Also they habitats in rain forest of Southwestern Nigeria and his are biological control agents (Platnick, 1995). Furthermore, study suggested possible effect of habitat characteristics on they are less harmful to the environment than man for their the occurrence and diversity of foliage spider species. This venoms are not polluted as the pesticides used in agro- present study is therefore aimed at documenting the ecosystems (Novak, 2001) and their venoms are also used distribution and diversity of spiders in five different in the treatment of the heart disease (Davey, 1994). habitats with a view to estimating the influence of habitat Spiders inhabit the ground, underground tunnels system, structure on diversity of spider in the area of study. The under stones and near water but habitually it likes moist information gained on the diversity and distribution of place. Some spiders live on the seaside where they are spiders elucidated in this study would play an important sunken into the sea twice a day. Freshwater is also the role in the management of spiders and related pests in the territory for many species including the water spider study area. (Karren, 2002). The growth of spider is through molting in which their size is increased with the removal of old and hardening of new skins. The spider varies in size and MATERIALS AND METHODS colours. The giant bird eating spider, Theraphosid (thorell) has a body size of 75 mm with leg length up to 255 mm. The Study area female spiders are always larger than the males (Kingsley, 1999). Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in South The origin of spider is still not vivid; however, many Eastern Nigeria in Enugu State. It has a total land area of scientists believed that the spider originated in sea 17.52sq mi(45.38 km2)(Federal Republic of Nigeria Official (Auduoin, 1994; Blackwall, 2001). Later on they evolved Gazette, 2007). This town is inhabited by many ethnic into two groups, one with and other without extensor leg groups but it is dominated by the Igbos. This area has the muscles. The evolution of spider is around 400 million following neighbours; Edemani, IbagwaAni, Opi, Orba, and years ago. The earliest spider were larger in size and with Ede-oballa. Other nearby towns include Enugu-ezike, segmented body, however, the recent spiders have Obollo Afor, Adani, Uzouwani and Mkpologwu. Nsukka unsegmented body. Only members of the suborder people are known for their peaceful nature and kind Mesothalae are still reported with segmented abdomen, hospitality. It has an estimated population of about 309,683 and they are generally considered the most ancient type of people, Nsukka lies within the following coordinates, and is ״and longitude 7°24҆30.43 ״spiders. There is very little fossil record about them, the latitude: 6°51҆55.35 oldest spider fossil was found in a rock in New York, USA approximately 300m above sea level (Federal Republic of and it dated back to the Devonian period (410 to 360 Nigeria Official Gazette, 2007). million years)(Barrion and Litsinger, 1995). This fossil was preserved and only spinnerets and chelicerae were documented from the carboniferous period (360 to 290 Sampling materials million years) (Cambridge, 1984). The fossil spiders with segmented abdomen were recognized. The web of spider is This ecological research was carried out with the use of hardly fossilized, it is believed that early spiders built some materials which includes; pitfall traps, sweep nets, unstable web near the ground, however, later on they beating sheets, insect nets, sticks, and plastic containers. developed aerial web in flora for catching flying insects. It is possible to say that the evolution of spider is just related to Pitfall traps: Aluminum mixing bowls(8.5 inch diameter the evolution of insects (Karen, 2002). 3.0 inch deep,1.5 qt.capacity) were use to capture and Little information is available about spider found in retain spiders associated with ground-litter habitats of Mesozoic period (240 to 65 million years) (Dyal, 2003). Nsukka. The bowls were buried flush with the soil surface, Spiders are obligate predators of herbivorous insects and and partially filled with a killing - preservative agent- a they are capable of reducing insect population that may not 50:50 mixture of ethylene glycol and 95% ethyl alcohol, be limited by competition and food availability in some plus 1-2 drops of household detergent to reduce surface agro ecosystem. Several studies have shown that insect tension. populations significantly increase when released from predation by spiders. Spiders as predators are not attached Sweep nets: The standard insect sweep nets were used to to a particular plant species as a food source, therefore collect spiders from the herbaceous- shrub-small tree vegetation structure, is an important determinant of spider layers. These nets included; (1) a Professional series insect community attributes. net, 12 inch diameter, with muslin netting and a 36 inches In Nigeria however, there are relatively low data on wooden handle, and (2) a Heavy duty sweep net,15 inch Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 071

diameter, with sail cloth netting, and a 24 inches handle. using the keys by Ubick et al., (2005). Captured spiders were removed from sweep net by aspirator or by dry vial and transferred to small jars. Checklist arrangement

Beating sheets: To collect spiders from woody shrubs and Spider families, genera and species are listed in alphabetical trees. order for convenience. Seven species of spider in University of Nigeria, Nsukka are listed and arranged. They were listed Other materials include; Aspirator bottle, Jars, Alcohol, and arranged based on their different stations. Microscope, Petri dishes, Hand gloves.

Habitat affinities Sampling sites Prior to the statistical analysis, each spider species was Sampling was carried out in the Hostels, Staff quarters, classified according to its family and genera, since all University secondary school and University primary school, studied species are from the order Araneae. We classified with all study sites located in the University of Nigeria, according to the habitat affinities of these spiders. Their Nsukka. These sites were selected due to their habitat habitat affinities include: characteristics and climatic inclemency. They pose a very good estimator of spider fauna. (i) House specialist species: species preferring shady house interior conditions with stable cold humid microclimate, as Sampling Site 1 – Hostels: This site is covered by tall well as interior house edges (Whitcomb et al., 1981). buildings and shady environments. (ii) House generalist species: widely distributed species that show a high frequency of occurrence in light and open Sampling Site 2 –Staff quarters: This site is covered by houses. buildings, bushes, gardens and trees in the University. It is (iii) Garden dwelling species: distributed species that show the residence of lecturers of the University. high frequency of occurrence in outside garden areas and nearby bushes (Whitcomb et al., 1981).

Sampling Site 3 – University secondary school: This site is covered by storey buildings and secondary growth Calculation of species abundance bushes. The Shannon-Weiner Species Diversity Index was Sampling site 4 – University primary school: This site is calculated by taking the number of each species, the covered by humid and shady buildings. proportion each species is of the total number of individuals, and sums the proportion times the natural log of the proportion for each species. Since this is a negative Methods of sampling number, we then take the negative of this sum. The higher the number, the higher is the species diversity. In the ideal Spiders were sampled under rocks, ground debris, under situation, one should compare populations that are the loose bark of dead trees and stumps, and also by examining same size in numbers of individuals. interior and exterior surfaces of buildings. This method was used to collect spiders in four study stations; The formula is as follows: s Station 1: Hostels Shannon Wiener index (H’) = - Σ pi ln pi Station 2: Staff quarters i = 1 Station 3; University secondary school Station 4: University primary school Where H’ is the species diversity index, s is the number of species, and pi is the proportion of individuals of each All these study stations are all found in the university of species belonging to the ith species of the total number of Nigeria Nsukka locality. individuals.

Spider identification RESULTS

All collected spiders were taken to the laboratory, placed in Distribution of species small dishes and submerged in alcohol, and examined with binocular microscope. Only adult spiders were identified During present study, 7 species from 4 families and 6 Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 072

Table 1. Percentage composition of spider species at studied stations.

Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Family Species Common name Plate N % N % N % N % Agelenidae Tegenaria. domestica Funnel weaver spider 10 3.64 1 0.55 1 1.92 12 9.84 Plate 6 Araneidae Argio peaurantia Garden spider 35 12.73 11 62.84 5 9.62 0 0 Plate 5 Araneidae Argio pelobata Orb weaver spider 46 16.73 21 11.48 6 11.54 20 16.39 Plate 4 Araneidae Gasterancantha cancriformis Spiny-backed spider 0 0 4 2.19 4 7.69 0 0 Plate 3 Sicariidae Loxosceles reclusa Brown recluse spider 0 0 1 0.54 0 0 0 0 Plate 7 Theridiidae Latrodectus geometricus Brown widow spider 184 66.90 41 22.40 13 25 60 49.18 Plate 2 Theridiidae Steatoda nobilis False widow spider 0 0 0 0 23 44.23 30 24.60 Plate 1 Total 273 100 183 100 52 100 122 100 7

genera were recorded in Table 1. In Station 1 Table 1 which contained the families, species, spider distributions in the study stations. A total of Latrodectus geometricus (Plate 2) were numerically common name and their plate numbers. 275 arthropods were collected in Station 1 followed more abundant (184) forming (66.9%) of the by183 in Station 2 and 52 in Station 3 and 122 in sample, it was followed by Argio pelobata (Plate 4) Station 4. Latrodectus geometricus (Brown widow with (16.73%) and Argio peaurantia (12.73%) and Mean abundance and composition of spider spider) is more prevalent in Stations 1, 3 and 4 Tegenaria domestica (3.64%). Argio peaurantia species in the sampled stations exhibiting an affinity to humid shady household (Plate 5) were dominant composing (62.54%) of areas. Argio. peaurantia is more prevalent in Station samples collected in Station 2 followed by Table 2 shows the mean abundance and 2 exhibiting affinity to household gardens. Latrodectus. geometricus forming 22.40% of the composition of spider at the four stations studied. Table 4 shows the general prevalence of the sample, then A. pelobata with 11.48%, There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) collected samples. Latrodectus geometricus (Brown Gasterancantha cancriformis (Plate 3) had 2.19%, observed in the four stations. Latrodectus widow spider) is more prevalent relative to the Tegenaria domestica (Plate 6) and Loxosceles reclusa geometricus had the highest mean abundance of other species, followed by Argio pelobata (Orb (Plate 7) composed of 0.55 and 0.54% of the 183.3 ± 2.08 in Station 1. The least mean abundance weaver spider). The distribution of the species sample respectively. Steatoda nobilis (Plate 1) were was observed in Loxosceles reclusa (Plate 7) with a Loxosceles reclusa (Brown recluse spider) is very the predominant species in Station 3 composing of mean abundance of 1.6 ±0.57. low in this study area. 44.23% of the sample collected, Latrodectus Table 3 showed the classification of the different geometricus constituted 25%, Argio pelobata, samples from phylum to the species level showing 11.54%, Argio peaurantia had 9.62%, the number of respective samples collected in the Species abundance and diversity Gasterancanthacan criformis had 7.69% and four stations. From Table 2, Station 1, we had 4 Tegenaria domestica with the least composition of spider species which is lesser than the 6 species From the Table 5, we compared the relative species 1.92%. In Station 4, Latrodectus geometricus were found in Station 2. Stations 2 and 3 showed higher abundance of the different study stations using the abundant recording 49.18% of sample, followed by number of different species (6) when compared to Shannon Wiener Index formula. Station 3 has more Steatoda nobilis (24.80%), Argio pelobata (16.39%) the 4 species found in Stations 1 and 4. The spider fauna (1.4547) and shows more specie and Tegenaria domestica with (9.84%). Pictures of prevalence and distribution of this spider species abundance to stations 1, 2 and 4 with 0.9508, the different spider species collected are shown in are represented in Table 3 showing the various 1.0154 and 1.2182 respectively. Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 073

Table 2. The mean abundance and composition of spider at the four stations studied.

Species Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Tegenaria domestica 10.3 ±1.52 2.0 ±1.0 1.3 ±0.57 13.0 ±1.00 Argio peaurantia 45.6 ±0.57 23.0 ±2.0 6.3 ±0.57 22.3 ±3.21 Argio pelobata 38.0 ±2.64 116.0 ±3.60 6.3 ±1.527 0.0 ±0.0 Latrodectus geometricus 183.3 ±2.08 40.3 ± 2.08 13.6 ±1.154 60.3 ±1.52 Gasterancantha cancriformis 0.00 ±0.00 6.0 ±2.0 3.6 ±0.57 0.00 ±0.00 Loxosceles reclusa 0.00 ±0.00 1.6 ±0.57 0.00 ±0.00 0.00 ±0.00 Steatoda nobilis 0.00 ±0.00 0.00 ±0.00 23.6 ±2.08 30.3 ±0.57

Table 3. Classification based on studied stations.

Phylum Class Order Family Species St 1 St 2 St 3 St 4 Arthropod 275 183 52 122 “ Arachnida 275 183 52 122 “ “ Araneae 275 183 52 122 “ “ “ Agelenidae T. domestica 10 1 1 12 “ “ “ Araneidae A. aurantia 35 115 5 0 “ “ “ Araneidae A. lobata 46 21 6 20 “ “ “ Araneidae G. cancriformis 0 4 4 0 “ “ “ Sicariidae L. reclusa 0 1 0 0 “ “ “ Theridiidae L. geometricus 184 41 13 60 “ “ “ Theridiidae S. nobilis 0 0 23 30

Table 4. General distribution of the collected samples.

Taxa Total Phylum Class Order Family Species Total Araneae Arthropoda Arachnida 632 Agelenidae Tegenaria domestica “ “ “ Araneidae Argio peaurantia 24

“ Araneidae Argio pelobata “ “ 93 “ “ Araneidae G. cancriformis 155 “ “ “ Sicariidae Loxosceles reclusa 1 “ “ “ Theridiidae Latrodectus geometricus 298 “ “ “ Theridiidae Steatoda nobilis 53

Table 5. Species abundance at studied stations.

Species Station 1 PiInPi Station 2 PiInPi Station 3 PiInPi Station 4 PiInPi Latrodectus geometricus -0.2689 -0.3351 -0.3466 -0.3489 Argio peaurantia -0.2622 -0.2919 -0.2251 0.0000 Argio pelobata -0.2991 -0.2485 -0.2491 -0.2964 Gasterancantha cancriformis 0.0000 -0.0837 -0.1973 0.0000 Steatoda nobilis 0.0000 0.0000 -0.3608 -0.3449 Tegenaria domestica -0.1206 -0.0281 -0.0758 -0.2280 Loxosceles reclusa 0.0000 -0.0281 0.0000 0.0000 Total

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Plate 1. False widow spider (Steatoda nobilis). Phylum Arthropoda. Class Arachnida Order Araneae Sub order Araneaemorphae Family Theridiidae Genus Steatoda Species Steatoda nobilis Common name: False widow spider Phylum Arthropoda Class Araneae Order Araneae Sub order Araneaemorphae Family Theridiidae Genus Latrodectus Species Latrodectus geometricus Common name: Brown widow spider

Taxonomic classification of samples collected family Zodariidae first time recorded from Pakistan. In the present research, 7 species reported were in University of Plates 1 to 7 shows the taxonomic classification of collected Nigeria. All reported species were earlier defined. The samples. diversity difference among the two study areas was due to geographical and ecological differences. As insects are the main source of food for spider and they are abundant in the DISCUSSION warm areas, therefore, the diversity was different among the two study areas. The distribution and abundance of spider species in All 4 spider families caught, namely, Araneidae, University of Nigeria may be due to habitat characteristics, Agelenidae, Theridiidae, Sicariidae are all constituents of climate and availability of insects. Areas with shady warm the suborder Araneomorphae and it has a high a population habitat and availability of insects are known to support in the eastern part of Nigeria due to habitat characteristics thriving populations of Arachnids (Ursani and Soomro, and food availability. Murphy and Murphy, (2000) studied 2010). The favourable effect of insect availability on spider the spider fauna of Kafanchan, Kaduna State and the study habitat preference was confirmed by the fact that most showed the high population of spider families namely, spiders in their various habitats were feeding on insects. Sparrasidae, Clubionidae, Zodariidae. This differences were Ursani and Soomro (2010) had earlier studied and updated discovered to be as a result of the differences in ecological the checklist of the spider fauna in Peshawar, Pakistan. A habitat and geographical area. total of 132 species were recorded belonging to 24 families The pooled catches of the spiders were highest in station and 73 genera from 16 surveyed districts of Peshawar. 1(275) > station 2 (183) > station 4 (122) > station 3 (52). Majority of reported species were earlier defined except The diverse and green vegetation cover, increasing garden Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 075

Plate 2. Brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus) Phylum Arthropoda Class Arachnida Order Araneae Sub order Araneomorphae Family Araneidae Genus Gasterancantha Species Gasterancantha cancriformis Common name: Spiny-backed orb weaver spider Phylum Arthropoda Class Arachnida Order Araneae Sub order Araneomorphae Family Araneidae Genus Argiope Species Argio pelobata Common name: Orb weaver spider

Plate 3. Spiny-backed orb weaver (Gasterancantha cancriformis).

and fruit orchard surroundings around the sampling sites showed high abundance due to diverse green vegetation such as the staff quarters` habitat, as well as, the availability cover, and availability of insects. The high spider of insects and the practice of multiple cropping pattern of populations coupled with numerous layers of orb webs flowering vegetables supported the high population of A. lining the plant canopy provided a diverse set of aerial peaurantia (Garden spider) in this station. More so, the traps that caught flying insects. The difference in the presence of high tall buildings and structures along station populations of these two researches was due to difference 1 (Hostels) that are kept unsprayed with herbicides in its vegetation cover and insect availability. There is an maintained high spider populations of orb weaver spiders increasing interest in the use of ‘indicator’ groups of and brown widow spiders. Grasses served as stabilizing invertebrates for assessing and monitoring ecological anchors or posts for the orb web foundation during the web changes associated with forest management practices. building process. Spider fauna in Peshawar, Pakistan Arshed et al. (2012) reported 18 species under 13 genera Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 076

Plate 4. Orb weaver spider (Argio pelobata). Phylum Arthropoda Class Arachnida Order Araneae Sub order Araneomorphae Family Araneidae Genus Argiope Species Argio peaurantia Common name: Garden spider Phylum Arthropoda Class Arachnida Order Araneae Sub order Araneomorphae Family Agelenidae Genus Tegenaria domestica Common name: Funnel weaver spider

Plate 5. Garden spider (Argio peaurantia). Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 077

Plate 6. Funnel weaver spider (Tegenaria domestica) Phylum Arthropoda Class Arachnida Order Araneae Sub order Araneomorphae Family Sicariidae Genus Loxoscles Species Loxoscles reclusa Common name: Brown recluse spider

Plate 7. Brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa)

and 8 families of the spider in Peshawar district. In the The biodiversity and predatory efficacy of the spider in present research, 7 species under 6 genera and 4 families rice field was studied from central Punjab, Pakistan and were recorded from Peshawar. Species documented from recorded 44 species from a huge collection of 28000 the present area were lesser than that of Arshad et al. specimens (Tahir, 2009). While the present research was a (2012). The two studies showed difference in the diversity general survey of sites in UNN reported only 4 families. of the spider fauna. Reason was that different climatic Therefore, one can argue that the two studies had different factors in the study areas. biodiversity because of the varying environmental factors, Academia Journal of Biotechnology; Ejikeme et al. 078

geographical occurrences, temperatures and food Rierchert (1984). Zodariellumserraferum species. A new spider (Araneae: availability. A more reliable indication of an ecosystem Zodariidae) from Hainan Island. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 34 (1): 10- 13. health is likely to be provided by invertebrates Spellerberg R (1993). Spiders of China in Color. Hunan Science and (Spellerberg, 1993). Technology Publishing House, Hunan, China. 256: 1 –10. Tahir M, Butt A (2009). New Species of Family Lycosidaefrom Agricultural Fields of Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 38: 185–189. Tickader BK (1982). Spiders as Biological Control Agents. Annu. Revision. Conclusion Entomol. 29: 299–320. Thorell RO (2000). Araneae. Australia Biological Invasions. 13(4): 1000- The outcome of the study has revealed that University of 1103. Nigeria is a good habitat for spiders. The relative Ursani TJ, Soomro NM (2010). Checklist of Spider Fauna of Sindh Province, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Entomology, 32(1): 61–73. abundance and distribution of spider families namely; Whitcomb et al. (1981). Animal Sicariidae, Theridiidae, Agelenidae and Araneidae shows Biodiversity.http://www.biodiv.gov.cn./eic/650773461869 that the habitat characteristics and geographical 789184/20051010/11798.shtml, (Accessed: 3-5-2015). distribution is conducive for habitation of spiders. From the study, it could be concluded that the availability of insects and warm climate were paramount and suitable for the survival and distribution of spider species.

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