Biological control potential of spiders on the selected cotton pests

Abstract

Spiders have a wide insect host range and thus can act as biological control agents of insect pests in agro-ecosystems. In the present study, the four species of spiders like (Peucetia viridana (Stoliczka), Oxyopes birmanicus (Thorell), Oxypes salticus (Hentz) and Peucetia latikae (Tikader) were predominant in the cotton fields of Achamthavirthan, Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India.  which are capable of controlling cotton pests. The four species of oxyopidae spiders were collected from the cotton fields of Achamthavirthan. These were determined during the 2011 cropping season. Effects of the spider on major cotton insect pests were studied under laboratory conditions (32 ºC, 65% RH and photoperiod of 13:12 (L: D) hours). The predatory potential of four oxyopidae spider species (P. viridana, O. birmanicus, O. salticus and P. latikae were evaluated on three major cotton pests cotton pests (Aphis gossypii, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) and Leafhopper) and daily rate of feeding and host preference were recorded for ten days. Results indicated that the maximum predation was recorded in P. viridana on key cotton pests.