The study of lifecycle of threePardosaspecies viz., P.birmanica, P. leucopalpis and P. oakleyiunder laboratory conditions

Abstract

The lifecycle of three Pardosa species (P. birmanica, P. leucopalpis and P. oakleyi) was studied under laboratory conditions. The spiders were reared in clear perplex cages on artificial diet. The cotton swab was soaked in modified diet and kept in the cage. The diet was changed after regular interval (24 hours). After mating ten female spiders were selected for research in separate cages. On hatching newly born spiders lings were climbed on the mother back for 4 days after that they were separated from the mother’s back. A group of seventy spider’s lings was separated randomly from all the cages for research and each spider-ling was introduced into a cage to prevent cannibalism. The diet was given to these spiders lings under same laboratory conditions. Daily observations were noted on each cage to study the developmental stages of Pardosa species. The first molting stage was spent on the mother’s back. The selected Pardosa species exhibited eight instars to become adult. The total length of male and female was observed at adult stage. The feeding of man-made diet by the ground spiders is an indication that the mass rearing of these spiders could be utilized against to control the various insects’ pest species.