Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Spiders are generalist predators that contribute to the control of pests in agroecosystems. Land use management
determines habitats including refuges for hibernation and aestivation. The availability of shelters on the ground can be crucial for
maintaining populations of spider within crops. We studied the effect of the number of stones on the surface of the soil on the spider
community in selected olive groves in Trás-os-Montes (northeastern Portugal). The number of stones signifi cantly infl uenced
the overall diversity of spiders, abundance of immature individuals and abundance of ground hunters. Agricultural management
practices aimed at the conservation of soil microhabitats such as hedgerows, stonewalls and stones on the ground should be
promoted in order to maintain or increase the number of shelters for potential natural enemies of pests.
Description
Keywords
Abundance Araneae Biological control Diversity Ground hunter Predator Shelter
Citation
Benhadi-Marín, Jacinto; Pereira, José A.; Barrientos, José A.; Sousa, José P.; Santos, Sónia A.P. (2018) - Stones on the ground in olive groves promote the presence of spiders (Araneae). European Journal of Entomology. ISSN 1210-5759. 115, p. 372-379