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Egyptian Journal of Crop Protection, Vol. (8) No. (2): 1-7, 2013 © Egyptian Society of Plant Protection.2013

SOME BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE FORMICINUS (CLERCK) (ARANEAE : ) UPON FEEDING ON PSAMMOTERMES HYBOSTOMA DESNEUX TERMITES M. F. R. Mahmoud1 and * Nadia A. Abdel lattif2 1- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum Univ. Egypt 2- Plant Protection research Institute , A.R.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Laboratory studies of Thanatus formicinus (Clerck) with feeding on Psammotermes hybostoma termites proved that the developmental period of spiderlings varied with sex and between siblings. Females lived longer periods and consumed larger number of prey compared with males. The incubation period of eggs ranged between 9-15 days. The eggs hatchability recorded 73.4 % of the total deposited eggs. Each ootheca contained 25-40 eggs with a mean of 31.6 eggs. Mean number of eggs /female was ranging 189-253 eggs. Spiderlings females consumed a total prey average of 383.6 prey and 349.9 prey for spiderlings males. The mean number of prey consumed by females adult was 936.9 prey / female and 715.4 prey for males adult. Food consumption throughout the period of life span was 1320.5 prey for females and 1065.3 prey for males.

Key Words: , Araneae, Thanatus formicinus (Clerck), Psammotermes hybostoma Termites, Biology.

in Egypt eight of which are “ground- INTRODUCTION nesting” or “subterranean” and three Spiders are of widespread are“dry-wood”or“non-subterranean. Among occurrence in nature feeding voraciously the predominant subterranean termites in on other especially insects Egypt is Psammotermes hybostoma (Whitelock, 1975). Thanatus formicinus is (Desneux) (Isoptera : Rhinotermitidae) one of the two predominant spiders in which cause considerable damages to any Fayoum field crops namely; clover, cellulose containing materials (El-Sherif, sugarbeet and maize. The biological 1969; Said, 1979; Ali, 1980; Khalil et aspects ( generation periods, male and al.1982. female lifespan) and food consumption of Nel, 1970, stated that predators (mainly T. formicinus were varied as prey ants and spiders) often interfered in the i.e., Tetranychus urticae, Empoasca sp., foraging and probably played an important Tribolium confusum, Musca domestica and part in limiting the damage done by the Spodoptera littoralis as results of termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen). (Mahmoud 2004). Some biological Newlands, 1975 found that spider aspects of other species of arachnids; Loxosceles spinulose in May 1972 under Anelosimus aulicus (Koch) and A. rubble and shaded logs and in an old tepedariorm were studied by different termite nest in the northen Transvaal south authers ( Rahil,1988; Rahil and Hanna Africa. Wilson and Clark, 1977 mentioned 2001 ; El-Erksousy et al. 2002; Justin , that birds and predacious arthropods 2010 and Jim, 2010). (especially the spider Ammoxenus Termites are a group of social insects psammodromus (Simon ) were the major that belong to the order Isoptera. They are predators and peak termite activity occurred important pests in many countries during the heat of the day. Wesolowska and particularly in the arid tropics and Cumming, 1999 mentioned that the first subtropics (Emerson, 1955 and Harris, termitivorous jumping spider (Araneae: 1961& 1967). Hafez (1980) reported that Salticidae) where it was observed preying there are – at least - 11 species of termites

* Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]

Some biological aspects of the spider Thanatus formicinus (clerck) ……………….………..

on Odontotermes transvaalensis termites 12 cm. height all covered with polyethylene inside the chimney of their mound. except for the lower-most 2 cm. which were left uncovered. The present study was designed to reveal some biological aspects of Thanatus Traps were distributed with 2m. formicinus for better understanding of their distance from all direction. Traps were role in biological control. thoroughly soaked in water then vertically buried into the soil to 12 cm. depth with the The present work was designed to study upper end of the trap located just at soil some biological aspects of Thanatus surface. Removed traps were introduced in formicinus (which lived on the ground and polyethylene bags and replaced with new feed on the ground insects) for better ones. Traps were transferred to the understanding of their role in biological laboratory for thorough examination. control of termites which conceders a cardboard rolls were carefully unrolled to serious ground pest. obtain castes which classified into larvae, MATERIALS AND METHODS nymphs, soldiers, workers and alates (according to Harris, 1961 and El-Sherif A )Laboratory rearing of spiders: and Kaschef, 1973). Workers of termites The biological aspects of T. formicinus were used as food for T. formicinus were observed under lab. conditions ( 20- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 32 C and 45-62 % RH.) to obtain data on the durations of the different stages in the Biological aspects of Thanatus life cycle, fecundity of females, pre- formicinus : oviposition, post-oviposition and oviposition T.formicinus was reared on termites periods, as well as food consumption of under lab. condition of 20-32C and 45-62% spiderlings and adults. RH. Obtained results indicated that: For this purpose, the spider was Egg incubation period, hatchability and collected from fields and individually fecundity: confined in Petri dishes (10cm) provided with workers of termites Psammotermes The results showed that the incubation hybostoma as food. Some confined period of eggs ranged between 9-15 days females being copulated before collection, with a mean of 11.4 days. The number of oviposited in few days . Immatures were newly hatched spiderlings from the daily observed and supplied with food until deposited eggs represented 73.4 % of the adulthood, then copulated and separated. deposited eggs. Each ootheca contained The deposited oothecae remained with 25-40 eggs with a mean of 31.6 eggs / mothers until hatching. The resulting ootheca. The total mean number of eggs spiderlings were singly transferred to new was 224.4 eggs/ female , ranging between dishes to be fed on workers of termites 189-253 eggs (table 1) and daily observed for a complete Duration of spiderlings: generation. Developmental periods of spiderlings B) Collection method of termites: varied with sex and between siblings. Termites were collected by used Individuals passed through 6 immature Corrugated cardboard traps as mentioned instars; for females these periods ranged by El-Sebay(1991). P. hybostoma between 12-18, 10-13, 14-23, 11-17, 17- specimens were collected from an area at 23 and 13-18 days with a mean periods of El Hashatra village, Yousf El Sedek district 16.7, 11.8, 18.4, 13.4, 14.3 and 11.6 days, El-Fayoum Governorate. This particular respectively. The mean total period was village is known to be commonly infested 86.2 days ( 73-92 ). The respective period with P. hybostoma. This area was for males range were 11-16, 7-15, 5-14, 8- carefully cleaned-up of any cellulose 13, 9-17 and 10-13 days; respectively. The materials using cardboard trap which mean total immatures period for males consisted of corrugated-cardboard paper was 80.0 days ( 69-91 days ) . Female wrapped in rolls of 5-7 cm. diameter and developmental period was longer than that

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Mahmoud and Nadia A. Abdel lattif for male; therefore males reached maturity of females ranged between 56-80 days before females ( table 2). with an average of 70.2 days, while longevity of males lasted from 51-63 with a Adult longevity and lifespan : mean of 56.5 days. Females lived a mean Pre-oviposition period ranged between of 155.5 days , ranged between 139-164 6 – 8 days with a mean of 6.8 days . The days and for male the average was 136.5 oviposition period ranged between 42-56 days, ranged between 125-143 days. The days with a meam of 50.7 days. The post- life span of females was longer than that of oviposition period ranged between 8-18 males (table 3). days with a mean of 13.7 days. Longevity

Table(1): Incubation period , egg hatch % and fecundity of Thanatus formicinus upon feeding on Psammotermes hybostoma termites at (20- 32 C)and (45-62)RH%. Parameters Range Mean SE Incubation period (days) 9-15 1.1 ±11.4 Egg hatch % 45-100 3.1± 73.4 No.oothecae/ female 6-8 2.9±7.1 No.eggs/oothecae 25-40 1.5±31.6 No.eggs/female 189-253 6.7±224.36

Table (2): Duration of Thanatus formicinus spiderlings upon feeding on Psammotermes hybostoma termites at (20- 32C)and (45-62)RH%. Instars Range Mean±SE

st

16.7±1.5 12-18 ٍ 1 ô 11-16 14.8±2.1 2nd ٍ 10-13 11.8±1.7 ô 7-15 12.8±1.8 3rd ٍ 14-23 18.4±2.3 ô 5-14 12.8±2.8 4th ٍ 11-17 13.4±2.5 ô 8-13 12.0±2.9 5th ٍ 7-23 14.3±1.3 ô 9-17 13.2±1.1 6th ٍ 13-18 11.6±2.6 ô 10-13 14.4±2.1 Total ٍ 73-92 86.2±5.3 ô 69-91 80.0±4.3

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Some biological aspects of the spider Thanatus formicinus (clerck) ……………….………..

Table (3): Longevity and lifespan of Thanatus formicinus adult upon feeding on Psammotermes hybostoma termites at (20- 32C)and (45-62)RH%. Adult Range Mean±SE Pre-oviposition 6-8 6.8±1.2 ٍ

Oviposition 42-56 3.4 ±50.7 ity

Post-oviposition 8-18 2.2 ±13.7

Longev

Total 56-80 6.1 ±71.2

ô Total 51-63 4.2 ±56.5

Total 139-164 5.3±156.5 ٍ

n

ô Total 125-143 136.5±6.4 Lifespa

respectively. With a total prey average Food consumption : numbers of 349.9 prey (table 4). Generally instars and adult females of Adults : T.formicinus, consumed high numbers of prey than that for males (Table 4 ). The mean number of prey consumed by females adult was 936.9 prey / female. The Spiderlings: total mean during the pre-oviposition , Spiderlings females consumed a total oviposition and post-oviposition periods mean of 19.4, 39.4, 69.0, 65.9, 88.2 and were 54.4, 754.5 and 137.0 prey, 101.7 prey, respectively; with total prey respectively. While the total mean numbers average numbers of 383.6 prey. While the of prey consumed by adult male was 715.4 males spiderlings consumed 15.3, 34.4, prey. Food consumption throughout the 51.4, 60.1, 86.0 and 97.1 prey; period of life span was 1320.5 prey for female and 1065.3 prey for male. (table5).

Table (4): Mean consumption of Thanatus formicinus spiderlings upon feeding on Psammoterm hybostoma termites at (20- 32C) and (45-62) RH%. Instars Range Mean±SE D.R. 1st ٍ 17-22 19.4±1.2 1.66 ô 13-18 15.3±0.75 1.03 2nd ٍ 38-41 39.4±3.4 3.33 ô 30-41 34.4±1.7 2.69 3rd ٍ 63-75 69.0±3.3 3.75 ô 49-70 51.4±2.9 4.01 4th ٍ 61-71 65.9±2.4 5.07 ô 50-67 60.1±3.5 5.00 5th ٍ 81-95 88.2±4.2 6.17 ô 80-85 86.0±2.1 6.51 6th ٍ 90-115 101.7±2.7 7.06 ô 90-110 97.1±5.6 6.50

Total ٍ 359-408 383.6±7.3 4.45

ô 306-365 349.9±5.1 4.37 D.R. = Daily rate of food consumption

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Mahmoud and Nadia A. Abdel lattif

Table (5): Mean consumption of Thanatus formicinus adults upon feeding on Psammotermes hybostoma termites at (20-32C)and (45-62)RH%. Adult Range Mean±SE D.R.

Pre- 8.0 48-64 54.4±2.1 oviposition oviposition 630-840 754.5±10.2 14.7

Post- Longevity 80-180 137.0±6.2 10.0

oviposition

Total 758-1068 936.9±11.4 13.35

ô Total 762-809 715.4±6.7 12.70

Total 1132-1412 1320.5±9.1 8.49 ٍ

ô Total 1001-1140 1065.3±8.2 7.80 Life Life span

D.R. = Daily rate of food consumption

Fig.(3): Adult female Fig.(4): Adult male

Generally, the present data indicated larvae and 4.8 larvae, respectively, while that, the developmental period of 6.2 and 3.9 larvae for spiderlings and adult spiderlings, adult longevity, life span and males. Also Mahmoud (2004) reard these food consumption were varied with sex and species with different prey namely; between siblings. Where females were up Tetranychus urticae, Empoasca sp., than males. In this respect, Rahil (1988) Tribolium confusum, Musca domestica and reared Steatoda triangulosa Walck. On Spodoptera littoralis. The mean of larvae of house fly, Musca domestica Fab developmental period from egg to adult of at 25°C with 57 % RH. and recorded that females was 63.6, 54.7, 51.9, 54.3 and the incubation period was 17.9 days. The 53.2 days, respectively. Longevity period duration of spiderlings was 66.3 days. The was 94.2, 107.9, 127.0, 141.6 and 171.0 oviposition period was 10.11 days. The days. The average life span was 157.8, female and male longevity average were 162.6, 178.9, 195.9 and 224.2 days. The 98.7 and 58.4 days and the total deposited total mean number of prey consumed by eggs were 76.8 days. Food consumption of adult female was 1763.3, 1039.0, 988.0, female spiderlings and adult were 6.3 984.0 and 2994.3 prey , respectively.

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Some biological aspects of the spider Thanatus formicinus (clerck) ……………….………..

REFERENCES Aswan Governorote, Upper Egypt. Assuit J. Agric. Sci., 13 (3): 101-106. Ali, A. M. (1980): Control of termites in Egypt- present and future. Mahmoud, M.F.R.(2004): Studies on true Sociobiology, 5 (2): 211-212 . spiders. Ph.D. Thesis, Fac., Agric. Fayoum, Cairo Univ., 188 pp. El-Sebay,Y.(1991): A modified El _ Sebay for subterranean termites. Forth arab. Nel, J. J. C. (1970): Aspects of the Congress of Plant Protection. Cairo, behavior of the workers of the Egypt, Dec. 1991. PP. 245-247. harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) in the field. El-Erksousy, M.H. (2002): Biological Journal of the Entomological Scociety studies on the spider Theridion of southern Africa. 33(1): 23-34. egyptium Fawzy and El- Erksousy.(Bull.2nd Int. Conf.,PI. Port., Newlands, G. (1975): A revision of the Res.,Inst. ARC.Cairo. Egypt. 1:40-41). spider genus loxosceles Heinecken & lowe, 1835 (Araneae: Scytodidae) in El-Sherif, L. S (1969): Studies on some southern Africa with notes on the Egyptian termites. M.Sc. Thesis, Fac. natural history and morphology. Sci., Ain Shams Univ., 192 p. Journal of the Entomological society El-Sherif, L. S. and Kaschef, A. H. (1973): of southern Africa. 38(2):141- 154. Survey and of the termites Rahil, A. A. R. (1988): Ecological and in Egypt (Isoptera). Bull.Soc. Ent. biological studies on the spiders at Egypte,, 57: 283-297. fayoum ,.(Unpublished .Sc. Thesis, Emerson, A. E. (1955): Geographical Fac. Agric.Fayoum,Cairo Univ.,133pp. origins and dispersions of the termite Rahil,A.A.R. and M.A. Hanna (2001): genere. Fieldiana Zool., 37: 465-521. Some biological aspects of Hafez, M. (1980): Highlights of the termite the true spider Anelosimus aulicus Koch problem in Egypt. Sociobiology, 5 (2): (Theridiidae : Arachnida). (Conf.Sust. 147-154 Agric. Devel., Fayoum Fac. Agric., Harris, W. V. (1961): Termites, their 195-201). recognition and control. Longmans, Said, W. A. (1979): Ecological and London, 187 p. toxicological studies on Family Harris, W. V. (1967): Termites of the genus Hodotermitidae. M. Sc. Thesis, Fac. Anacanthotermes in North Africa and Agr., Ain Shams Uni., 128p. the Near- East (Isoptera : Whitlock, R.(1975): Spiders. Priory Hodotermitidae). Proc. Roy. Ent. Soc. PressLtd.,101 Grays Inn. Road.WC1, London, (B) 36: 79-86. 80pp. Justin,s (2010): What is the lifespan of the Wesolowska, W. and Cumming, M. S. (1 house spider. (http://www.ehow.com/ 999): The first termitivorous jumping about_65952243_lifespanhousespider.ht spider (Araneae: Salticidae). Bulletin mI#ixzz 1328YWbg). of the British Arachnological Society. Jim, M.(2010): What is the lifespan of the 11(5):204-208. house spider. (http://www.ehow.com/ Wilson, D. S. and Clark, A. D. (1977): about_65952243_lifespanhousespider.ht Above ground predator defense in the mI#ixzz 1328YWbg). harvester termite, Hodotermes Khalil, F. M.; Rizk, M. M.; Maher, A.A. and mossamicus (Hagen). Journal of the Morsy, M.A. (1982): Assessment of Entomological society of southern damage due to termites in Egypt. II. Africa. 40(2): 271-282.

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Mahmoud and Nadia A. Abdel lattif

دراسة بعض المظاهر البيولوجية للعنكبوت الحقيقي (Clerck( Thanatus formicinus عند التغذية على أفراد نمل الرمال األبيض التحت أرضى Psammotermes hybostoma ماهر فؤاد رمضان محمود)1 و نادية عبد الشفيع عبد اللطيف )2

1( جامعة الفيوم- كلية الزراعة- قسم وقاية النبات 2( معهد بحوث و قاية النباتات– مركز البحوث الزراعية- وزارة الزراعة الملخص العربي

أثبتت تتتج ا دراسدتتج درليل لتم ر ل تجبس دربلةرةللتم ر يتلبتة در ل ت Thanatus formicinus ت تتتت در تتتتسةي درليل لتتتتم 20-32 م( ة 45-62 % سطةبتتتتم تتتتتتبلم ( أم اتتتتتسد لسد تتتت درتطتتتتةس ت ت تتتتي بج تالي درلتس ذلتةس نةدتتج( ( ةبتلم داات دسا بيدتخج اد ت درلتتس درةد تا ةةلتا أم د تتج( تيتلي اتت دس لتلتم أطة ةتتتخ ك عاا ألبس لم درفسد س درت تتغذى ع لخج ل جستتم بجرتذلةس ةلتذرك أةدت درتتتج ا أم اتتسة دتجتم بلض بتذد دريتلبتة تسدة ت لتجبلم 9-15 لةلتج بلتةتتط 11,4 لةلتج ةلجتت تتتبم ا تس دربتلض تةدر 73,4 ةتدع داتثى ال اتسة ةدع دربلض اى درلتةتط 7,1 للس ةل للس ل تةى ع ى تةدر 31,6 بلدتم ةدتا ةلا أم داطةدس غلس درلجل م تج( دريتلبة تتتخ ك اى درلتةتط 383،6 اتساد لتم اتغجا درتلت ةلثل تختج لتم درتتتذلةس تتتتتتخ ك اتتت درلتةتتتتط 349،9 اتتتساد ألتتتج دااتتتسدا درلجل تتتم لتتتم تتتتتج( دريتلبتتتة تتتتتتخ ك اتتت درلتةتتتتط 936،9 اساد ةلثل تخج لتم درتذلةس تتتتخ ك 715،4 اتساد ةرتذرك لللتم أم ل يتا بتذد درتتةل لتم دريتجلتا اةسد بجلج ا للج درل جةلم در لةلم رتل درسلج دابلض

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