Diversity and Population Dynamics of Spiders in Spring and Kharif Maize (Zea mays) Crops of Punjab

The present study investigated the occurrence of 15 spider species, belonging to families Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Oxyopidae, Lycosidae, Salticidae, and Araneidae in spring and 20 spider species of families Oxyopidae, Lycosidae, Salticidae, Pisauridae, and Phylodromidae in kharif maize crop. Spiders of family Lycosidae (40.0-53.33%) and genus Pardosa (nine species) were the predominant of all. In spring maize, higher spider population was during May (3.57 individuals/plot) with Pardosa amenata (56.51 individuals/plot) predominating significantly as compared to other spider species. In kharif maize, a higher spider population was recorded during August (2.76 individuals/plot) after which the spider population starts declining. Lycosa pseudoannulata (44.5 individuals/plot) and Pardosa milvinia (40.88 individuals/plot) predominated significantly as compared to other spider species. Increase in the Shannon-Wiener index, species richness and decrease in species evenness and Simpson’s index was recorded in kharif as compared to spring maize crop. The higher spider population (29.34%) was in spring maize crop during May as compared to that in August in the Kharif maize crop. The study concludes that maize is a good host for the survival of spiders.Hence, pest management strategies, especially the use of pesticides should be used with caution during these times.