OCCURRENCE OF TRUE SPIDERS ASSOCIATED WITH WHEAT PLANTS IN QALUOBIA AND BENI-SUIEF GOVERNORATES, EGYPT

Abstract

Wheat, (Triticum aestivum L.), is a major cereal crop in Egypt. True spiders represent one of the most important natural predators against different arthropod pests in Egyptian fields. In this study , the common true spiders were surveyed in wheat fields, and counted weekly using two different methods (Plant-shaking method and Pit-fall trap) during the cultivated seasons 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. The obtained results indicated that the collected spiders associated with wheat plants in the two tested localities (Qaluobia and Beni-Suief governorates) were 13 spider species belongs to 12 genera in 12 families. The number of collected spider species associated with foliage in this study were 10 species, as the soil spiders were 4 (one of them inhabiting foliage and soil ( Erigone sp : Linyphidae). The abundance of the collected species were higher during April month along the two cultivated seasons. The results indicated that the commonest spiders inhabiting the soil of wheat plants in Qaluobia Governorate were belonging to 3 families, Gnaphosidae, Lycosidae and Oecobiidae. The highest number of collected spider species were observed during April 2017 and 2018 but the period of December did not recorded any spiders. Family Gnaphosidae recorded the highest population followed by Lycosidae and Oecobiidae along the two examined seasons.