Spider fauna on temperate rice in Kashmir

摘要

Extensive surveys for the study on the spiders associated with the temperate rice of Kashmir, India were conducted during 2008 and 2009 in three districts viz., Srinagar, Budgam and Anantnag of Jammu and Kashmir for the study. The temporal distribution of spider fauna was highest in 34th standard meteorological week (SMW)in the locations of district Srinagar and Budgam. In district Anantnag, the peak population of spider was recorded in 33rd SMW. A total 1155 individuals belonging to 40 species, 29 genera under 13 families were recorded. In total, 19 species belonged to web building spiders and coming under four families (Araneidae, Tetragnathidae, Linyphiidae, Theridiidae); 16 species belonged to visual hunting group and coming under 6 families (Lycosidae, Salticidae, Oxyopidae, Gnaphosidae, Pisauridae, Sparassidae) and 5 species belonged to tactile hunter group coming under 3 families (Thomisidae, Clubionidae, Miturgidae). Among web building spiders, Theridion sp. and Neoscona mukerjei Tikader; among visual hunting group, Pardosa altitudis Tikader and Malhotra, Pisaura sp1 and among tactile hunter, Xusticus sp. and Clubiona japonicola Boesenberg and St. were recorded most abundant species. Among all locations, P. altitudis was recorded as most abundant species followed by Theridion sp. The relative abundance of visual hunters was higher (48.49 %) than web building (32.38 %) and tactile hunter group of spiders (19.12%). Among all groups of spider, the relative abundance of family Lycosidae (17.41 %) was higher fallowed by Theridiidae (10.39 %).