Aeropalynological study of spider webs from university college of science, Saifabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana State

The present paper deals with an aeropalynological study of University College of Science, Saifabad Campus, Osmania University, Hyderabad by using palynological data collected from the spider webs during winter season i.e. November, 2014. Nine spider web samples were collected from all corners of college premises and 39 pollen grains were identified along with fungal spores. The predominant pollen grains were those of Peltophorum pterocarpum, Ageratum conyzoides, Tridax procumbens, Prosopis julifera, Cocos nucifera, Pithecolobium dulce, whereas the spores of fungi i.e. Alternaria sp., Ascospores, Torula sp. and Curvularia sp were observed. Several pollen grains and fungal spores, reported during present study are known to be allergenic. The investigation revealed that spider webs act as natural pollen traps, and are useful to know the incidence of allergy causing pollen during winter season.