Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara – 390002
*E-mail: dollymsu@gmail.com
Online published on 1 December, 2011.
The present study reveals the effects of pesticides on the survival and web building potential of Stegodyphus sarasinorum. Female spiders were assessed for survival and web building activity when subjected to contact and residual toxicity in laboratory. The results show that these spiders can tolerate a concentration which is several times higher than the field recommended doses. Among all classes of pesticides tested neem formulations showed least toxicity whereas methomyl and endosulfan were highly toxic.
Social spider, agroecosystem, pesticides
