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Arthropods, 2021, 10(1): 18-33
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Article

Seasonal variation and biology of Delena cancerides Walckenaer (Araneae: Sparassidae) in a banana agroecosystem

Akamu Jude Ewunkem1, Nelson Neba Ntonifor2, Christophe Parr Mbua3
1Department of Nanoscience, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA; Department of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, USA
2Department of Agronomy and Applied Molecular Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
3GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA (Vaccines)/Tech Mahindra Limited Belgian Branch Office, Waterloose Steenweg, Brussels, Belgium

Received 18 December 2020;Accepted 22 January 2021;Published 1 March 2021
IAEES

Abstract
Bananas are the fourth-ranked agricultural crop in monetary value. Cameroon is one of the world top producers of bananas. Huntsman spiders are often seen in commercial banana agroecosystems in Cameroon and bananas destined for export causing fear among handlers and customers. High population density of Delena cancerides are ubiquitous in commercial banana agroecosysyems in Cameroon. However, no information has been made available regarding the biology and ecology of D. cancerides in banana agroecosystem. In this study we accessed habitat distribution during the rainy and dry seasons and biology of D. cancerides. Delena cancerides were commonly found under barks of pseudeostems, spaces between leaf petioles and sometimes on foliage. The population of D. cancerides significantly increased during the dry season and declined during the rainy season. A significantly (t=5.4, df=46, P<0.05) higher number of D. cancerides was seen on preflowering pseudostems (ca 61.4%) than pseudostems with bunches (ca 37.9%). The population of D. cancerides was significantly (t=6.5, df=22, P<0.05) greater in the morning (ca 58.9%) than in the afternoon (ca 41.1%). After mating, the female produced an egg sac 21¡À0.6mm in which she laid 70.8¡À0.8 eggs and stood guard over it without eating. At ca 29¡À0.6d after oviposition, the eggs hatched into 60.3¡À1.4 spiderlings. Females required a significantly (t=0.7, df=18, P>0.05) longer time to develop (339.4¡À49.0d) compared to the males. These findings may help facilitate the accumulation of data about D. cancerides and its role in shaping invertebrate communities in a banana agroecosystem.

Keywords Delena cancerides;banana;population;spiderlings;agroecosystem.


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