BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE TRUE SPIDER KOCHIURA AULICA (ARANEIDA: THERIDIIDAE) REARED ON THE FIRST LARVAL STAGE OF SPODOPTERA LITTORALIS IN EGYPT

Abstract

Specimens of Kochiura aulica spider were collected from cotton crops in Qalyubia governorate during season 2017. Spiders were associated with the leaf cotton worm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval, 1833) larvae. The spider Kochiura aulica (C.L. Koch, 1838) had 5 spiderlings for female and male. Individuals of the spider K. aulica were reared on the first larval stage of S. littoralis under laboratory conditions at three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C and 60-70% R.H). The first spiderling recorded the longest duration compared to other spiderlings of female and male when fed on 1st larval stage of S. littoralis at three constant temperatures. Results indicate that individuals of K. aulica which were reared at 30 °C developed faster than those reared at 20 and 25 °C. The life cycle of K. aulica was the shortest when the spider reared at 30°C averaged 79.3 and 76.2 days followed by 25°C averaged 103 and 98.3 days and the longest values was 123.7 and 118.2 days at 20°C for female and male, respectively with significant differences among the three constant temperatures. Prey consumption was calculated for different stages. Effect of constant temperatures on longevity, life span and fecundity of the spider were studied. The number of consumed preys was the highest at 30 °C and the lowest at 20 °C. Also, the number of egg sacs per female was the highest at 30 °C and the lowest at 20 °C.