Scientific name: Pardosa pseudoannulata (Boesenberg & Strand)

Common name: Wolf spider

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Pardosa pseudoannulata (Boes. & Strand) feeding on a stem borer adult

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Spiderling of Pardosa pseudoannulata preying on a brown planthopper nymph

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Female Pardosa pseudoannulata spider

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Ventral view of Pardosa pseudoannulata feeding on green leafhopper

 

 

Taxonomy:

Class Arachnida
Order Araneae
Family Lycosidae

Economic importance

Generalist predator.

Hosts

Leafhoppers, planthoppers, moths, and butterflies.

Description

Pardosa pseudoannulata has a forked or Y-shaped median light band on the carapace. Its sub-lateral margins have a longitudinal white band. The male spider has 4 to 5 transverse light bands on the dorsal side of the abdomen, whereas the female has 3 elongate-ovate light bands and a pair of globular spots. In addition, the male has enlarged palps.

Biology and ecology

Pardosa pseudoannulata is a very active spider. It hunts for its prey. The adults are usually found near the base of the plants. They prefer leafhoppers and planthoppers as prey. They feed on 5 to 15 prey daily. At high population density, they also eat each other.

The female spider lays as many as 200 to 400 eggs in a sac. From this sac, about 60 to 80 spiderlings hatch. Newly hatched spiderlings remain attached to the female for several days. The female lives 3 to 4 months.

In greenhouse experiments, the wolf spider was observed to have an underwater hiding behavior. It can hide under water with silver bubbles covering the body. It breaths through air films trapped by the hairs of the body.

Wolf spiders are found in newly prepared wetland or dryland rice fields.

Selected references

Barrion AT, Litsinger JA. 1994. Taxonomy of rice insect pests and their arthropod parasites and predators. In: Biology and management of rice insects. Manila (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. p 13-362.

Reissig WH, Heinrichs EA, Litsinger JA, Moody K, Fiedler L, Mew TW, Barrion AT. 1986. Illustrated guide to integrated pest management in rice in tropical Asia. Manila (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 411 p.

Shepard BM, Barrion AT, Litsinger JA. 1987. Helpful insects, spiders, and pathogens. Manila (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 127 p.

Morrill WL, Rubia EG. 1990. Behavior of the wolf spider Lycosa pseudoannulata (Boes. et Str.). Int. Rice Res. Newsl. 15(5):21.