Predatory potential of spider, Synema decoratum (Araneae: Thomisidae) on aphid, Aphis craccivora (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Predation is of great ecological, evolutionary and behavioral interest. Spider has a wide insect host range and thus can act as biological control agents of insect pests in agro ecosystems. An experiment was conducted in Biocontrol Research and Production Centre, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur (M.P.) India to determine the functional response of spider, Voucher specimen 3. Synema decoratum (Araneae: Thomisidae) female as test predator on different densities of aphid, Aphis craccivora (Homoptera: Aphididae). The results indicated that the consumption rate of spider, Synema decoratum ranged from 7±1 on an average; whereas maximum predation of A. craccivora recorded in 24 h was 89 % with type III response.