Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Spiders (Order Araneae) are invertebrates belonging to the class Arachnida and play an essential role as natural predators in terrestrial ecosystems. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the species richness of spiders in the Nagpur District, Maharashtra, India. Sampling was carried out from July 2023 to February 2024 using standard collection techniques including sweep netting, hand collection, vegetation beating, and active visual search. A total of 20 spider species belonging to 10 families were recorded across four study sites: Site A Nagpur, Site B Mouda, Site C Ramtek, and Site D Kamptee. The highest species richness was observed at Mouda (Site B) and Ramtek (Site C), likely due to favorable agricultural and semi-natural habitats, while Nagpur (Site A) and Kamptee (Site D) exhibited lower diversity. The findings provide baseline information for future ecological and biodiversity studies of spiders (Order Araneae) in the Nagpur District.
Source: Indian Journal of Entomology
Authors: Sonu G Thawkar, Sharyu V. Ghonmode
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7125501744