INTRODUCTION
At present, pollution consider one of the main problems facing the world. Therefore, pest control strategy is depending on
Integrated crop management system for Pest control (ICMS). Predators are the most important agents as well as the spiders.
Agnew (1985); Joon et al., (1988);Halaj et al., (1995); El-Erksousy (2000) studied some biological aspects of some spiders
as biological agents. It declare that these spider species have a good role in the IPM system. Therefore, the use of spiders in
pest control El-Erksousy (2000) stated that family Theridiidae is found in El-Gharbia; Beni-Sweif; Beheira; El-Fayoum
and El-Sharkia Governorates on cotton; clover and sunflower plants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Samples of spiders were collected from cotton fields by means of sweeping by net or examining plant samples. Individuals
of the spider Anelosimus oulicus were selected from the samples. Each adult female with adult male together was confined
in a test tube 20 cm long and 0.5 cm in diameter and the tube was closed by cotton pad. After female laid the eggs-sac, the
male and female were discarded and egg sac was watched daily until hatching is occurred. Each individual of the 1 st spider
ling was put separately in a test tube. A primarily experiment was done to determine the maximum consumption of all
spider lings. A favorite number of prey individuals (S. littoralis) were put daily and number of daily consumption was
determined until death. Also, duration of each spider ling was counted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Feeding behavior:
The adult and immature stages of spider Anelosimus oulicus usually caught the cotton leafworm prey in the area between
the thorax and the head (i.e. the weakest part of the body). The spider used its mouth parts in sucking the cotton leafworm
contents. Feeding on a cotton leaf -worm about 2-3 minutes in which an external digestion is expected.
Oviposition and eggs incubation:
The gravid females of Anelosimus oulicus when rearing on the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). laid their
eggs in sacs, each one contained 15-20 eggs. Eggs were yellowish in color, almost spherical then became darker before
hatching. Spiderlinges stated together before getting out from the egg sac.
Developmental stages of Anelosimus oulicus when fed on the cotton leafworm S. littoralis.:-
Table (1) shows the incubation period averaged 12.0 days for female and male at 26 + 1°C and 60-70% R. H. The different
spider lings for female from the 1 st to 5 th averaged 7.5 + 0.3, 8.6 + 0.42, 5.2 + 0.1, 5.5 + 0.42, and 28.4 + 0.51 days,
respectively while in case of male these stages averaged 6.5 + 0.5, 10.0 + 0.0, 8.0 + 0.0, 7.8 + 0.6 and 16.9 + 1.82 days,
respectively. The total duration of male life cycle (egg + immature) was shorter than that of female, with averaged 61.2 +
1.97 and 67.2 ± 1.75 days, respectively.
Food consumption of Anelosimus oulicus when fed on the cotton leafworm S .littoralis at 26 °C and 60-70 R.H.%.
Table (1) demonstrated that female stages of spider A. oulicus from the 1 st to 5 th Spiderlinges consumed an average, 5.1 ±
0.42, 9.2 ± 1.15, 13.63± 0.36, 27.4 ± 1.56 and 198.25 ± 40.5 prey daily individuals, respectively, with an average of
253.58± 43.99 prey individuals for all Spiderlinges.
Daily consumption of 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th male Spiderlinges as follows: 6.2 ±0.75, 10.3 ±1.2 , 35.9 ±2.54, 49.3 ± 0.90
and 176.9 ± 14.35 prey individuals, respectively, with an average of 278.8 ± 19.74 prey individuals for all Spiderlinges.
This study is agreement with El-Erksousy (2000) where he studied the biological aspects of the spider Crustulina conspicus
(Cambridge) (Araneida: Theridiidae) on the mobile stages of Tetranychus uriticae (Koch) at 26°C.The author mentioned
that female spider went through 6 Spiderlinges before reaching maturity, while male spiders went through 5 Spiderlinges.
The life cycle required 171.67 and 139.86 days for female and male spiders, respectively.
2nd International Conference, Plant Protection Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt, 21-24 December,2002
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Volume 1, 1-2
Studies On Biological Control Using The Spider Anelosimus Oulicus (Theridiidae)
El-Erksousy, M.H.; Amira, A. Shoeib and H. F. Dahi
Plant Protection Research Institute, ARC, Dokki-Giza, Egypt.
ABSTRACT: Biological control of agricultural pests using spider species has potential to overcome problems associated with the use
chemical pesticides. In this respect life cycle of Anelosimus oulicus (Theridiidae) was investigated when predator reared on the cotton
leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). The length of the life cycle was 67.2 and 61.2 days at 26 + 2°C and 60-70% R.H. for females
and males, respectively. The average food consumption for female and male were 253.58 and 278.8 preys, respectively, when feed on
cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis.
INTRODUCTION
At present, pollution consider one of the main problems facing the world. Therefore, pest control strategy is depending on
Integrated crop management system for Pest control (ICMS). Predators are the most important agents as well as the spiders.
Agnew (1985); Joon et al., (1988);Halaj et al., (1995); El-Erksousy (2000) studied some biological aspects of some spiders
as biological agents. It declare that these spider species have a good role in the IPM system. Therefore, the use of spiders in
pest control El-Erksousy (2000) stated that family Theridiidae is found in El-Gharbia; Beni-Sweif; Beheira; El-Fayoum
and El-Sharkia Governorates on cotton; clover and sunflower plants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Samples of spiders were collected from cotton fields by means of sweeping by net or examining plant samples. Individuals
of the spider Anelosimus oulicus were selected from the samples. Each adult female with adult male together was confined
in a test tube 20 cm long and 0.5 cm in diameter and the tube was closed by cotton pad. After female laid the eggs-sac, the
male and female were discarded and egg sac was watched daily until hatching is occurred. Each individual of the 1 st spider
ling was put separately in a test tube. A primarily experiment was done to determine the maximum consumption of all
spider lings. A favorite number of prey individuals (S. littoralis) were put daily and number of daily consumption was
determined until death. Also, duration of each spider ling was counted.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Feeding behavior:
The adult and immature stages of spider Anelosimus oulicus usually caught the cotton leafworm prey in the area between
the thorax and the head (i.e. the weakest part of the body). The spider used its mouth parts in sucking the cotton leafworm
contents. Feeding on a cotton leaf -worm about 2-3 minutes in which an external digestion is expected.
Oviposition and eggs incubation:
The gravid females of Anelosimus oulicus when rearing on the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). laid their
eggs in sacs, each one contained 15-20 eggs. Eggs were yellowish in color, almost spherical then became darker before
hatching. Spiderlinges stated together before getting out from the egg sac.
Developmental stages of Anelosimus oulicus when fed on the cotton leafworm S. littoralis.:-
Table (1) shows the incubation period averaged 12.0 days for female and male at 26 + 1°C and 60-70% R. H. The different
spider lings for female from the 1 st to 5 th averaged 7.5 + 0.3, 8.6 + 0.42, 5.2 + 0.1, 5.5 + 0.42, and 28.4 + 0.51 days,
respectively while in case of male these stages averaged 6.5 + 0.5, 10.0 + 0.0, 8.0 + 0.0, 7.8 + 0.6 and 16.9 + 1.82 days,
respectively. The total duration of male life cycle (egg + immature) was shorter than that of female, with averaged 61.2 +
1.97 and 67.2 ± 1.75 days, respectively.
Food consumption of Anelosimus oulicus when fed on the cotton leafworm S .littoralis at 26 °C and 60-70 R.H.%.
Table (1) demonstrated that female stages of spider A. oulicus from the 1 st to 5 th Spiderlinges consumed an average, 5.1 ±
0.42, 9.2 ± 1.15, 13.63± 0.36, 27.4 ± 1.56 and 198.25 ± 40.5 prey daily individuals, respectively, with an average of
253.58± 43.99 prey individuals for all Spiderlinges.
Daily consumption of 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th male Spiderlinges as follows: 6.2 ±0.75, 10.3 ±1.2 , 35.9 ±2.54, 49.3 ± 0.90
and 176.9 ± 14.35 prey individuals, respectively, with an average of 278.8 ± 19.74 prey individuals for all Spiderlinges.
This study is agreement with El-Erksousy (2000) where he studied the biological aspects of the spider Crustulina conspicus
(Cambridge) (Araneida: Theridiidae) on the mobile stages of Tetranychus uriticae (Koch) at 26°C.The author mentioned
that female spider went through 6 Spiderlinges before reaching maturity, while male spiders went through 5 Spiderlinges.
The life cycle required 171.67 and 139.86 days for female and male spiders, respectively.