Spider fauna of flooded rice fields in northern California

A survey of the spiders associated with northern California rice fields was conducted to identify potential biological-control agents of rice feeding insects and mosquitoes. All of the 28 species were collected on the levees; however, only 10 of these were taken in the paddies. Pardosa ramulosa (McC...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of arachnology 1988-01, Vol.16 (3), p.331-337
Main Authors: Oraze, M.J, Grigarick, A.A, Lynch, J.H, Smith, K.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agroecosystems
ARAIGNEE
ARANAS
Araneae
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIE
CONTROL BIOLOGICO
Crops
ENCUESTAS
ENQUETE
FAUNA
FAUNE
Growing seasons
HABITAT
HABITATS
INSECTE NUISIBLE
INSECTOS DANINOS
Irrigation
Levees
LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE
ORYZA SATIVA
PEST INSECTS
Rice
SPIDERS
SURVEYS
Vegetation
Wildlife habitats
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Summary:A survey of the spiders associated with northern California rice fields was conducted to identify potential biological-control agents of rice feeding insects and mosquitoes. All of the 28 species were collected on the levees; however, only 10 of these were taken in the paddies. Pardosa ramulosa (McCook), Pirata piraticus (Clerck) and two linyphiid spp. were common throughout the agroecosystem. These spiders exhibited a seasonal succession in relative abundance within the paddy during the growing season. Pardosa ramulosa was dominant both on the levees and in the paddies. It comprised ca. 58 and 68% of the fauna in these respective areas. We suggest that the flooded paddies may serve as a refuge for the semiaquatic P. ramulosa during the dry summer months and that its abundance in California rice fields is due in part to the similarity of this agroecosystem to the native, pre-agricultural habitat.
ISSN:0161-8202
1937-2396