Role of hunting spiders in suppression of wheat aphid

In the present study,we assessed the predatory role of three most dominant hunting spiders (viz.,lycosa terrestris,pardosa birmanica and oxyopes javanus) against insect pests of wheat crop in laboratory and field conditions. for laboratory evaluation,both choice and non-choice feeding experiments were performed using three pest species,mythimna separate (oriental armyworm),sesamia inferens (pink graminous stem borer) and sitobion avenae (aphid). lab experiments showed that spiders consumed all the prey items offered but in different proportions. killing rate of aphid (nymph and adult) was higher than other prey types. oxyopes javanus was more voracious predator as compared to lycosa terrestris and pardosa birmanica. females consumed higher number of prey than males in both choice and non-choice feeding tests. in field,seasonal variation was recorded in the density of aphid and other prey items. it also affects the diet composition of each spider species. the results suggest that spider species residing the wheat fields consume aphid when present in the field and may help in the reduction of aphid populations below the economic injury level. copyright 2014 zoological society of pakistan.