Prey Preferences of Oxyopes Shweta (Araenae, Oxyopidae) to Insect Prey in Choice and no Choice Setup

Spiders are important generalist predators found in agroecosystems. Amongst spiders Oxyopes shweta is present in high densities and is an important predator of lepidopterans, dipterans and hemipterans. The present study was conducted to find the prey preference of O. shweta to the two commonly fed prey species, Spodoptera litura and Clavigralla horrens. Two types of prey preference tests were performed, providing evidence that (i) male and female spiders show differential preference to prey, male spider has preference for nymphs of C. horrens while females prefer S. litura larvae, (ii) prey preference of male and female spiders are not affected by hunger, (iii) prey preference is determined by the size prey morphology and (iv) movement pattern of insect prey is differentially interpreted by the spider and they employ unique attack pattern for different type and stages of insect.