Some Biological Aspects and Influence of Male and Female Presence Period on the Fecundity of Steatoda triangulosa Walckenaer, (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Some biological aspects of the spider Steatoda triangulosa were recorded upon feeding on Tribolium confusum larvae, it passed through four spiderlings for female and three spiderlings for male before reaching adult. The total spiderlings duration averaged (28.8, 24.2 days) consuming (36.8, 23.7 larvae) for female and male under laboratory conditions (23- 35ºC and 46-60 % R.H.). To determine the influence of male and female presence period, the experiment was performed with three different cases, in which the presence period of the first case was for one day; while the second was for seven days and the third case was conducted as females without males. Data illustrated that the number of eggs/female increased according to the increasing in this period recorded 71.6, 90.2 and 17.4, respectively. Longevity, life span and number of egg sacs deposited by females were independent of the females’ mating status in 1st and 2nd cases as there are no significant differences between them; while the 3rdcase was significantly different.