Studies on the habit and habitat, morphology, feeding capacity and prey prefernce of six humped dome spider Cyrtophora citricola simon

Laboratory studies were carried out to investigate habit and habitat, morphology, feeding capacity and prey preference of Cyrtiphora citricola collected from various places of Azamgarh district (U.P.). It was found on thorny bushes. It makes its web in between leaves of paddy crop plants. The females resemble a piece of dead leaf, and will sometimes hide in debris that has fallen into the web. While working on its feeding capacity it was found to prey actively on various insect pests of paddy crop fields. It was observed to prey on soft bodied insects like lepidopteran pests. It was also observed to show phenomenon of mimicry of concrete when it was disturbed. Asingle individual can consume about 25 to 29 insects/24h.