Biodiversity of spider fauna in Pir Baba, district Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

In the present study spider fauna was explored in Pir baba and its peripheries in District Buner. The collection was done during July-December 2013 by hand picking, pit fall trap and nets. The collected specimens (n=1705) belonged to 10 families, 10 genera and 12 species; the family Pholcidae was dominant (23%) while Sparassidae (3%) was rare. The rest of the families found with their relative abundance are Salticidae (7%), Theridiidae (6%), Caponiidae (5%), Gnaphosidae (16%), Ctenidae (5%), Lycosidae (11%), Selennopidae (16%), Scytodidae (6%). The genus Micrommata (3%) was scarce whiles Pholcus (23%) was enormous. The species Pholcus phalangioides (23%) was abundant in number while Micrommata virescene (3%) was found rare. The observed spider species were found non-poisonous according to taxonomic catalog. Abundance of spider fauna was observed in the month of July fromrnJawkhela (29%) and lowest from Batai (2%). A detailed study is required for further exploration of spider fauna in the region.