Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia

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  Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia Abstract Tarantulas play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating insect populations. However, little is known about the soil preferences and burrow structures of tarantulas in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the soil preference as well as the burrow structure of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  from Penang Island. The soil characteristics of the soil samples collected around the burrows of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  (n = 30) and  Chilobrachys andersoni  (n = 30) were determined using soil texture analysis. The measurements and burrow structures from adults and juveniles of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  were determined. It was revealed that the moisture content and clay percentage in the soil samples around burrows of  Chilobrachys anderso...

The diversity and distribution of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus, Nanded, Maharashtra, India

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The diversity and distribution of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus, Nanded, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
Spiders are one of the key species of the terrestrial ecosystems. The present investigation describes the diversity and distributional patterns of spider fauna within the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus region of the Nanded district, Maharashtra, India. From the 12 different families, 21 species of spider were identified. The most common taxa in the research region were Araneidae and Lycosidae, which also showed the highest levels of taxonomic diversity and the distribution of species was significantly impacted by habitat heterogeneity; ground-dwelling species were more common in grassland habitats, but web-building and leaping spiders were more common in shrub, garden, and human-modified environments. Several ecologically significant taxa, including Neoscona species, Pardosa pseudoannulata, and Oxyopes javanus, which are recognised natural adversaries of agricultural insect pests, are included in the documented assemblage. During the monsoon season diversity of spiders was high (19 species; 90.5%), followed by winter (15 species; 71.4%) and summer (13 species; 61.9%). Spider communities in the studied area are significantly influenced by seasonal climatic circumstances. Through establishing a crucial baseline to guide future conservation tactics and ecological management frameworks, this study offers a more thorough understanding of the regional arachnid biodiversity.

Jadhav, Mahesh. (2026). The diversity and distribution of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Campus, Nanded, Maharashtra, India. International Journal of Entomology Research. 11. 233-238.