Studies on the Spider Fauna of Sugarcane Ecosystem in Southern Peninsular India
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J.Biol. Control, 8 (2), 85-93, 1994 Studies on the Spider Fauna of Sugarcane Ecosystem in Southern Peninsular India S. EASWARAMOORTHY, H. DAVID, N.K. KURUP and G. SANTHALAKSHMI Division of Crop Protection Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore - 641 007 ABSTRACT Surveys conducted in three states of southern peninsular India revealed the occurrence of 57 species of spiders belonging to 13 families of Araneae in the sugarcane ecosystem. Of these, only two species viz., Hippasa greenalliae BlackwaH (Lycosidae) and Cyrtophora cicatrosa Stoliczka (Araneidae) were abundant, while six species were less abundant and 49 species were rare in occurrence. The spiders were found to colonize the sugarcane crop 40·45 days after planting. The population of the wolf spider H.greenalliae which com prised more than 70% of the total population increased with age of the crop upto 180 days. There was no significant variation in the population of H.greenalliae in sugarcane cropped field and adjacent fallow land. The orb weaver spider C.cicatrosa started colonizing the crop 100 days after planting of the crop and its population increased upto 240 days. Population of H.greenalliae and that of all the species had negative association with maxi· mum temperature and rainfall and positive association with relative humidity. A reverse trend was noticed in C.cicatrosa. Soil and foliar application of insecticides recommended for the suppression of shoot borer, Chilo infuscatel Ius Snellen in the early stage of the crop growth did not exert any significant influence on the colonization of spiders. Among the five insecticides tested as foliar sprays at six month old crop, quinalphos, monocrotophos and endosul fan significantly reduced the spider population. KEY WORDS: Sugarcane ecosystem, spiders, Hippasa greenalliae, Cyrtophora cicatrosa In India, sugarcane, a long duration field tic ides on colonization and popUlation build up crop is infested by a number of insect pest of spiders. species at different phases of its growth (David and Nandagopal, 1986). However, the physical MATERIALS AND METHODS characteristics of the crop limit the use of in Surveys were conducted at fortnightly in secticides once the canopy has closed (Fewkes tervals during 1988-91 at Sugarcane Breeding and Greathead, 1978). Consequently, the insec Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Additional ticide pressure is less in sugarcane. In India surveys were made at Kannur (Kerala) during only 2-3 per cent of the total insecticide con October and December 1989 and at Nellore sumption is on sugarcane (David, 1981). As a (Andhra Pradesh) during October 1990. During result, a large number of arthropod predators the survey, the plant and soil surfaces were are active in the sugarcane ecosystem (Eas examined carefully for the presence of spiders. waramoorthy et aI., 1988). But no systematic In addition, the plant whorls were also ex study has been carried out on the spider fauna amined. Only the adult spiders wcre collected inhabiting sugarcane fields. In the present in plastic tubes (lOx 2.5 cm) while the nymphs study, attempts were madc to detcrmine the were let free as they were not suitable for iden species complcxity of spiders, their seasonal tification. During the survey. searches were abundance and influence of weather, and insec- madc for a Juration of 4 man hours each time. Apart from this. at Coimbatorc, pit rail traps X6 EASWARAMOORTHY et al. Table I. List of species of spiders encountered in sugarcane fields Family Species Status Habitat HUNTING SPIDERS Cluhionidac Cheiranthilltn daneili Takader Rare under stones, trashes and C. hilllalaWlflsis Gravely Rare in crevices C. lwlhillllaensis Tikader Less abundant Lyc()sidac '" Hippasu sp. Rare on the ground with or II. age/enoides Simon Rare without small webs fl. greenalliae Blackwall Abundant fl. pis(lurillll Blackwall Less abundant Lyco.w indagatrix Walckenaer Rare L. mackcl1ziei Gravely Rare L. malwiJalcshwarcllsis Tikader Rare L. tiSla Tikader Rare Pardosa birmanica Si mon Less abundant P. mysorensis Tikader and Mukerji Rare R. sumatrana Thorell Rare Oxyopidac Oxyopes ratnae Tikadcr Rare leaf spindle and lamina O. shweta Tikader Rare O. scmandae Tikader Rare Pecutia viridana Simon Rare P. latikae Tikader Rare Salticidae Marpissa sp. Rare leaves and leaf sheaths M. bengaiensis Tikader Rare lu. caleuttaensis Tikader Rare M. decorata Tikader Rare M. kalapani Tikader Less abundant Mymarahne sp. Rare Phidippus sp. Rare Phidippus bengalensis Tikader Rare P. indieus Tikader Rare P. pateli Tikader Rare P. punjabensis Tikader Rare Plexippus pateli Audouin Rare P.paykullii Audouin Rare AMBUSHING SPIDERS Thomisi'dae Thornisus projeetus Tikader Rare leaf spindle WEB-BUILDING SPIDERS Araneidae Argiope aemula Walckenaer Rare In large webs * A.anasuja Thorell Rare interconnecting the Cyrtophora cicatrosa Stoliczka Abundant leaves of adjacent plants Gasterocantha germinata Fabricius in the row or sometimes Less hetween rows sbundunt Spiders in sugarcane ecosystem 87 Table 1. (Contd.) Family Species Status Habitat G. hasseltii Koch Rare Gea corbetti Tikader Rare Leucauge decorata Blackwall Rare * L. pondai Tikader Rare L. tessallata Thorell Rare * * Neoscona rumpfi Thorell Rare N. theis Walckenaer Rare Theridiidae * Argyrodes sp. Rare in webs on the upper * A. projeles Tikader Rare portion of the plants Theridion tikaderi Patel Rare MISCELLANEOUS GROUPS Eresidae Stegodyphus pacipicus Pocock Rare S. sarasinorum Karch Rare Heteropodidae Olios sp. Rare O. obesulsus Pocock Rare Lys somanidae * Lyssamanes sp. Rare L. andamanellsis Tikader Rare Pholcidae Crossopriza [yoni Blackwall Rare * Pholcus phalallgioides Fuesslin Rare Pisauridae Euprosthellopes ellioti Cambridge Rare Tetragnathidae Tetragnatha Jletcheri Gravely Rare * Additional species collected from Kannur (Kerala) ** Additional species collected from Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) containing ethylene glycol were set on the observation. The plants in the entire quadrat ridges in sugarcane fields at a distance of 20 area and the soil surface were examined metres and the ground dwelling spiders that thoroughly during each observation for record were trapped and killed were collected on alter ing the spider population. Following the same nate days. The spiders were preserved in 70 per procedure, the population of H.greenalliae, the cent ethyl alcohol. The specimens were iden dominant species, was estimated in sugarcane tified by Dr.B.H. Patel, Professor and Head, field and adjoining fallow land during Novem Department of Zoology, Sir P.P. Institute of ber 1990 to March 1991. The data on spider Science, Bhavanagar, Gujarat, India. population collected during 1989-90 and 1990- 91 crop seasons were correlated with weather For studying the seasonal abundance of parameters like maximum temperature, mini spiders, sugarcane (variety CoC 671) was cul mum temperature, forenoon relative humidity, tivated in an area of 0.4 ha during the main afternoon relative humidity and rainfall that cropping season. Normal agronomic practices prevailed during the previous fortnight. were followed and no insecticide was applied. The field was divided into quadrats consisting Two field experiments were conducted of 5 rows of 6 meter length of sugarcane. during 1989-90 and 1990-91 crop seasons to During. each observation, spider population study the influence of insecticides on the initial was sampled in 5 quadrats, four on the four colonization and population build up of sides of the field and one at the centre. The spiders. Seven insecticides commoly recom sampling uni ts were changed randomly for each mended for the control of shoot borer, Chilo 88 EASWARAMOORTHY et al. 20~--------------------------------~---------------' oN 15 --------- o F 8 P oI E R 8 45 80 75 90 105 20 35 50 85 80 95 210 25 40 65 70 85 300 15 30 AGE OF THE CROP IN DAYS H.gTeenalllae -t- C.clcatroBB --- Other epeclea -a- Total population , I Fig.l. Estimated population of spiders ('000) in one hectare of sugarcane field during 1989-90 crop season injuscatellus Snellen, the most important pest Hoechst, Bombay) 0.0014 per cent W~~ made of sugarcane in peninsular India, were tested. on 35th day of planting. Observations were The experiments were carried out (variety recorded on the population of spiders form 45th CoC 671) during the main cropping season in day of planting upto 90th day during 1989-90, randomised block design (RBD) with eight and upto 135th day during 1990-91. treatments and three replications. Each plot measured 20 x 6 metres with an inter row spac During 1990-91 crop season the influence ing of 9.0 ems. Aldrin (aldrex 30 EC, NOCIL, of five foliar insecticides commonly recom Bombay) 1 kg a.Uha, and Lindane (Lindag 20 mended for the control of sucking pests -like EC, Coromandel Jndag, Madras) 1 kg a.i./ha scale insects, mealy bugs, leaf hopper and were applied at planting as soil treatment. Soil whiteflies on the popUlation of spiders was application of Sevidol (Carbaryl: Lindane 4:4; studied. The experiment (variety CoC 671) Sevidol 8G Rhone- Poulenc Agrochemicals, was conducted in RBDwith six treatments and Bombay), Chlorpyriphos lOG (Coromandel three replications. The plot size was 20 x 6 Jndag, Madras) and cartap hydrochloride metres. Malathion _(Corothion 50 EC, (Padan 4G, Coromandel Jndag, Madras) all at Coromandel Indag, Madras), dimethoate 1 kg a.i./ha and foliar application of endosulfan (Rogor 30 EC, Rallis India, Bombay), Endosul fan (Thiodan 35 EC, Excel Industries, Bom (Thiodan 35 EC, ExcelIndustries, Bombay)