Abundance and prey spectrum of web spiders in rice agroecosystems of Pangasugan, Leyte, Philippines

Authors

  • Sarwshri Gangurde Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics (380), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
  • Konrad Martin Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics (380), University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
  • Maria Juliet C. Ceniza Institute of Tropical Ecology. Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32945/atr29210.2007

Keywords:

Tetagnatha, Argiope, prey spectrum, ricefields, spider fauna

Abstract

The cultivation of tropical Asian rice, which may have originated 9,000 years ago, created an agricultural ecosystem of unrivalled ecological complexity. A complex arthropod community is inhabiting in the rice ecosystem, including pest and beneficial species. Concerning beneficials, the spiders are among the very commonly encouraged species. A study was conducted in the irrigated tropical rice fields of Leyte, Philippines on the abundance and their potential for natural biological control. The objective of this study was to record, identify and count individuals of selected web building spider species and evaluate the prey spectrum at different stages of rice growth. It was observed that abundance of spiders in the rice ecosystems occurred only starting at the tillering stage when the preferred host plant stage for the prey species was reached. The most dominant species of spiders encountered were Tetragnatha species. However, in the latest stage of rice development, Argiope species were the most dominant spiders. Prey species included mainly the pest species of the rice plants, such as the coccinellid beetles, dragonflies and parasitic hymenopterans were also observed. The web building spiders showed more activity in the late afternoon than in early morning.

Submitted

2024-12-04

Published

2007-11-28

How to Cite

Gangurde, S., Martin , K., & Ceniza, M. J. C. (2007). Abundance and prey spectrum of web spiders in rice agroecosystems of Pangasugan, Leyte, Philippines. Annals of Tropical Research, 29(2), 148–155. https://doi.org/10.32945/atr29210.2007

Issue

Section

Research Article

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