Development of mass rearing system for the predatory spider, Oxyopes javanus, using artificial diet

• Main Authors: Raneses, Paolo Stefano, Santos, Nathan Antonio
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Insect rearing; Spiders
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/7545
• Institution: De La Salle University

The lynx spiders (Oxyopes javanus) is observed to be abundant in cacao plantations in Southern Tagalog, Philippines. It is potentially an important biological control agent in cacao planting having been observed feeding on the Cacao Mirid Bug (CMB). Initial population of lynx spiders of different ages were collected in the field and reared out in the laboratory using artificial diet composed of 1:1:1 ratio of soybean: full cream dairy milk: egg yolk and green food color was added to confirm that the spiders fed on the liquid diet with the color change of abdomen to green. Three mass rearing system (MRS) prototypes were designed and assessed for its efficiency. A total of 53 individual lynx spider spiderlings were reared and were fed using the artificial diet. The most efficient MRS was the third prototype, which was made up of wells where individual spiders were placed singly to avoid cannibalism due to its carnivorous in nature. Each well was provided with a feeding pad put in a hole of each of the well. Development of each individual spiders were observed to determine if the liquid diet has sufficient nutrient required for the growth and development of lynx spiders. Results showed the potential of the liquid diet as a full diet in mass rearing of lynx spiders for augmentation in the cacao farms to control the population of CMB.