Spider

Beneficial organism

The family includes different genera :

• Mainly in vineyards and arboriculture : Salticidae, Miturgidae, Araneidae
• Mainly field crops and vegetables : Lycosidae, Linyphiidae

Generally annual life cycle

Spider (Arena-Auximore project)

Habitat : Woods, meadows, verges

Usual method of eliminating pests

• Polyphagousinsect with general predation (including other beneficials)
• One web can capture up to 1,000 winged aphids.
• Insufficiently known but abundant, quick to hunt and effective at capturing. Plays a significant role in natural population control
• On soil pests (arthropods, subterranean bioaggressors ) and aerial pests.
• Preferred prey : aphids, psyllids, leafrollers, leafhoppers, thrips, diptera.
• Genus Padosa hunts for meligèthes and leafrollers.

Technical and agronomic management advice to encourage them

Favourable factors :

• Meadows and patches of woodland
• Diverse landscapes
• Unmown areas to keep eggs safe

Unfavourable factors :

• Phytosanitary products
• Tillage (deep and/or shallow)

Observation methods

Barber trap - Observation of webs in the field

Sources

• To find out more about pest control in orchards by spiders : https://www.produire-bio.fr/articles-pratiques/araignees-vergers-de-pommiers-regulent-ravageurs/
• Agrifind https://www.agrifind.fr/alertes/auxiliaires-de-culture/auxiliaires-araignees
• Geco https://geco.ecophytopic.fr/geco/Concept/Araignee

This article was written in partnership with <a href="https://www.agrifind.fr/alertes/auxiliaires-de-culture/auxiliaires-araignees">Agrifind</a> and <a href="https://www.terresinovia.fr/">Terres Inovia</a>.