Diversity and Population Dynamics of Spiders in Spring and Kharif Maize (Zea mays) Crops of Punjab

The present study investigated the occurrence of 15 spider species, belonging to families Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Oxyopidae, Lycosidae, Salticidae, and Araneidae in spring and 20 spider species of families Oxyopidae, Lycosidae, Salticidae, Pisauridae, and Phylodromidae in maize crop.Spiders of family Lycosidae (40.0-53.33%)and genus (nine species) were the predominant of all.kharif Pardosa In spring maize, higher spider population was during May (3.57individuals/plot) with (56.51 individuals/plot) predominating Pardosa amenata significantly as compared to other spider species.In maize, a higher spider population was recorded during August (2.76 kharif individuals/plot) after which the spider population starts declining.(44.5 individuals/plot) and (40.88 Lycosa pseudoannulataPardosa milvinia individuals/plot) predominated significantly as compared to other spider species.Increase in the Shannon-Wiener index, species richness and decrease in species evenness and Simpson's index was recorded in as compared to spring maize crop.The higher spider population kharif (29.34%) was in spring maize crop during May as compared to that in August in the maize crop.The study concludes that maize is a good Kharif host for the survival of spiders.Hence, pest management strategies, especially the use of pesticides should be used with caution during these times.