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The status of the poorly known spider genus Eutittha Thorell, 1878 which has been overlooked for more than 60 years is investigated. Examination of the type material of Eutittha insulana Thorell, 1... more...

Antagonist interactions such as intraguild predation (IGP) or cannibalism among predatory arthropods can reduce the impact of these invertebrates on pest limitation in agroecosystems. Here, the effects of IGP between two major natural enemies of cotton pests, the cursorial spider Cheiracanthium pelasgicum (C.L. Koch) and the common green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), were studied under laboratory conditions. First, a feeding preference test was carried out to determine the degree of C. pelasgicum preference for lacewing larvae, using second-instar Helicoverpa armigera larvae as alternative prey. In a second bioassay, the effects of predator interactions on potential predation of H. armigera larvae were analysed using three treatment combinations (plus a control with no predator): (1) spider alone, (2) lacewing larvae alone, (3) spider + lacewing larvae. Potential predation by C. pelasgicum on lacewing eggs was also studied. C. pelasgicum showed no significant preference for either of the two spe... more...

Spiders are one of the most abundant predator groups found in agroecosystems and they have special adaptations towards a predatory way of life. The aim of this paper is to review our present knowledge of spider diversity in different agroecosystems of South Africa, as well as their potential prey. This paper provides a measure of what has been achieved in research on spiders in South African agroecosystems, and identifies directions for future research. A checklist of spiders found in these systems is provided, based on published surveys and data from the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) database, with information on the guilds that they occupy. Thus far, 51 families with 238 genera and 413 species have been recorded from crops in South Africa. Five agrobiont species have been listed that might play an important role as natural control agents of pests: Ostearius melanopygius (O.P.- Cambridge, 1879) (Linyphiidae); Pardosa crassipalpis Purcell, 1903 (Lycosidae); Cheiracanthium fur... more...

A total of 127 species from 28 families have been established in 10 localities from Slavyanka Mountain (South-West Bulgaria). Two species (Cheiracanthium rupestre Herman, 1879 and Haplodrassus bohemicus Miller & Buchar, 1977) are new to Bulgarian fauna. 94 species are new for Slavyanka Mt. more...