TEMPERATURE DEGREES AS MAIN FACTOR AFFECTING THE BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE SPIDER, Thomisus spinifer (ARANEIDA : THOMISIDAE)

The effect of temperatures on biological aspects of spider Thomisus spinifer (Sundevall, 1833) (Araneae : Thomisidae) were studied under laboratory conditions of (25±2°C and 60-70% R.H.). Results indicated that, females reached maturity after 7.9 spiderling instars, (175.83 days) and males after 6-8 spiderling instars, (156.80 days) at 20°C, while females reached maturity after 6-8 spiderling instars 240 days) and males after 5-7 spiderling instars at 30°C. females life span durated 320.42 and 277.80 days for males at 20°C. while at 30°C these periods were increased to 397.38 and 360.30 days for females and males, respectively. Food consumption was also noticed at 20 and 30°C.