Spiders on Apple in Wisconsin and Their Abundance in a Natural and Two Artificial Environments

Abstract

AbstractAn investigation into the abundance of spiders in a three-acre apple orchard of northeastern Wisconsin was conducted in a natural and two artificial environments (captan and DDT) from 1959 through 1961. Six families, 17 genera and 24 species were recorded, with 15 species of hunting spiders and 9 species of cobweb forms present. Most abundant were Paraphidippus marginatus (Walck.), Philodromus cespiticolis (Walk.), Philodromus sp., Araniella displicata (Hentz) and an unidentified species of Salticidae. Comparisons are made with reports from the northeastern United States and Canada. Highest numbers were in the fungicide environment which was attributed to the more abundant and lush foliage there. Extremely low counts were obtained from the insecticide environment. Captan was deemed highly recommendable for increasing the total number of predacious spiders in an apple orchard.