›› 2007, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (9): 927-932.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Bionomics and behavior of the wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata (Araneae: Lycosidae)

  

  • Online:2007-09-20 Published:2007-10-10

Abstract: Bionomics and behavior of the wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata were studied through field and laboratory observation. In the experiment, as expected, the spider overwintered with spiderlings, subadults and adults, and their distribution pattern belongs to aggregation. It had 2-3 generations each year in the Northwestern Hunan province. The duration of the 3rd generation was the longest, and that of the 2nd generation was the shortest. The spiders began to move into the rice field from the farmland in the last ten-day of April. There were three oviposition peaks in the rice field. Usually, the wolf spider is a wanderer and it can also step or jump on the crop, land on the ground and water surface, and even move under water when frightened. Female and male mated several times one year, and one female could lay 5 egg-sacs at the most, and one egg-sac had 156 eggs on average in the experimental population. Females usually had a strong ability to protect their egg-sacs by carrying them in front of thorax when encountering an attacker. As expected, the hatched spiderlings made their way safely to the mother's back in aggregation mode. Three to five days later, they began to leave their mother and dispersed. The peak of dispersion occurred after six to seven days, and they had the capability to attack prey. The spiderling stage was 47-158 d. The adult period was 121-236 d. But the average survival duration of adult female was 21-62 d longer than that of adult male. The sex ratios of female to male were less than one in all generations except the second one. The courtship and mating behaviors of the adult spiders and characteristics of the spiderlings and sub-adult spiders were described in detail in this paper. Its starvation tolerance was stronger than its drought tolerance in the laboratory.