Vol. 10, Special Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
A Raju, SJ Rahman, SMAS Rahman, R Jagadeeshwar and S Narender Reddy

Abstract:
As a part of this study, assessment of spider populations was done in rice ecosystem in different locations of Telangana during 2018-19. A total of 3532 spider samples were collected and identified from six rice growing districts of Telangana. Among 23 species identified, 8 were dominant, 13 were sub-dominant and 2 were satellite species viz., Arctosa formosana and Cheiracanthium sp. Families Lycosidae, Tetragnathidae and Araneidae collectively accounted for 71.7 per cent of the total spider population collected in Telangana during both seasons. As a dominating species T. mandibulata was documented in three zones with the highest species richness levels. District wise species richness suggested that Nalgonda had the highest species richness with 21 species followed by Khammam 19 species, Jagtial 16 species, Nizamabad 16 species and Warangal 15 species. In Telangana, spiders in rice fields exhibited a modest degree of diversity with an equal distribution across all districts. Highest diversity, eveness and richness was found in Nalgonda. Rice ecosystem was dominated by orb weavers (38.8%) and ground runners (35.9%). Significantly high abundance of Tetragnatha mandibulata, T. elongata, Lycosa pseudoannulata and Araneus inustus were found throughout the vegetative and reproductive stages of rice crop during Kharif and Rabi seasons in Telangana.