Survey of spiders in tomato plantations was carried out in AlMandara region Fayoum Governorate, from Nov. 2012 till Sep. 2014.
Collection of spiders started two weeks after planting and continued
weekly to the end of season. Results revealed the existence of 42
species that belong to 34 genera in 14 families. Population densities
and seasonal fluctuations in relation to weather conditions were
estimated. The most dominant families were Theridiidae, Lycosidae
and Dictynidae, represented by 36.02%, 21.01% and 20.62%,
respectively. In moderate numbers were families Miturgidae and
Philodromidae, represented by 8.01% and 5.75%, respectively. The
rest of families were found in low or rare numbers as follow;
Thomisidae 2.4%, Araneidae 2.3%, Salticidae 1.6%, Pisauridae 0.8%,
Gnaphosidae 0.6%, Linyphiidae 0.4%, Pholcidae 0.2%, Clubionidae
0.1% and Mimetidae 0.1%. In general two species Anelosimus aulicus
(Theridiidae) and Dictyna segregate (Dictynidae) were most dominant
being 32.01% and 20.62% of the population of spiders community
inhabiting tomato fields.
Statistics indicated insignificant correlation between spider
populations and temperature, with negative significant correlation for
relative humidity and population during nili plantation 2012/2013,
whereas in nili plantation 2013/2014 the positive correlation between
populations was only for temperature, with no significant correlation
with relative humidity. In summer plantation 2013, a positive
significant correlation was found for both temperature and relative
humidity, but in summer plantation 2014, high positive correlation
was found between population and temperature only, with no
significant correlation with relative humidity.