Abstract

A preliminary study was conducted to document spider diversity in Matia, Goalpara District, Assam state in India. The study was conducted from January to May 2018. A total of 37 species of spiders belonging to 12 families were identified from the study area. The species were identified using keys for Indian spiders from Tikader 1987; Platnick 2011. The spiders impose natural check on insect pest populations. Methodology included active searching at all layers from ground level to tree canopy layer accessible easily for hand collecting and visual surveys. Randomly selected study sites and have taken 10 political areas and in each area’s 3 plots were selected. Amongst the families, the Araneidae was the most abundant (14 species) with orb weavers being the dominant guild type. A guild structure analysis of the spiders revealed eight feeding guilds such as Orb weavers, Ground hunters, Ambusheus, Ground runners, Stalkers, Space web builders, Branch dwellers, Foliage hunters.

Keywords

Spider, Species diversity, Matia, Goalpara District, Assam.

Received on 16/08/2018, Accepted on 21/08/2018, Published on 24/08/2018