Effects of an organophosphorous insecticide on survival, fecundity, and development of Hylyphantes graminicola (Sundevall) (Araneae: Linyphiidae).

Abstract-The effects of an organophosphorous insecticide, methamidophos, on fecundity and development of the spider Hylyphantes graminicola (Sundevall) (Araneae: Linyphiidae) were assessed under laboratory conditions. Susceptibility of adults of both sexes to the insecticide and its influence on fecundity of females and development of offspring were investigated. At 48 h after topical application in adults, the median lethal dose (LD50) and 10% lethal dose (LD10) were 0.35 and 0.12 microg/spider, respectively, for males and 0.52 and 0.16 microg/spider, respectively, for females. Methamidophos had detrimental effects on fecundity of females; number of eggs per clutch, total egg mass, and clutch size decreased significantly. The hatching rate of eggs from LD10-treated females was slightly higher than the rate in the controls, but the hatching rate of eggs from LD50-treated females was lower than the rate in the controls. However, no significant differences were observed in hatching time and development time across treatments. Development time of spiderlings from LD50-treated females was significantly longer than the time in the controls, and body sizes of the first spiderlings from insecticide-treated females were larger than those in the controls. However, matured offspring were smaller than those in the controls. It was concluded that methamidophos has long-term effects on H. graminicola, and that this may affect the development of spider populations in the field.