Dominated Spider Species and the Predation Assessment on <i>Apolygus lucorum</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) in a Tea Plantation

The mirid bug <i>Apolygus lucorum</i> (Meyer-Dür), a major pest affecting tea, also poses significant threats to a wide range of other crops across China. Identifying the dominant predatory spiders of the mirid bug and their pest control functions can provide a scientific basis for developing biological control technologies for this pest in tea plantations. In this study, we calculated the dominant presence of these spider species and evaluated the phenological overlap with the population of <i>A. lucorum</i>. Additionally, DNA from field-collected specimens of spider species was analyzed by <i>A. lucorum</i>-specific primers to detect the presence of residual DNA from the mirid bug. Using the predator-prey functional response model, the predation efficiency of various adult spider species on <i>A. lucorum</i> was assessed in laboratory conditions by testing different prey densities. The results showed that the greatest temporal niche overlap was observed between <i>Xysticus ephippiatus</i> and <i>A. lucorum.</i> Molecular detection results showed that <i>X. ephippiatus</i> and <i>Misumenops tricuspidatus</i> had significantly higher detection rates of the mirid bug than other spiders. The functional response of lab predation indicates that the predation ability of different spider species on <i>A. lucorum</i> increases with the density of prey. The predation functions of both adult <i>X. ephippiatus</i> and <i>M. tricuspidatus</i> conform to the Holling-II model. At a high prey density, the predation quantity of adult <i>X. ephippiatus</i> is significantly higher than that of adult <i>M. tricuspidatus</i>. In conclusion, the spider <i>X. ephippiatus</i> demonstrates the greatest potential as a biological control agent against <i>A. lucorum</i> within an integrated pest management framework. This research offers valuable scientific insights for leveraging predator species to effectively manage <i>A. lucorum</i> populations in tea plantations.