Spiders of a young plantation of eucalypt: diversity and potential predator of the most frequent arboreal species

Aranhas de um plantio comercial jovem de eucaliptos: diversidade e potencial predador das especies arboreas mais frequentes. Este estudo foi conduzido em areas de plantio comercial jovem de Eucalyptus grandis, em Botucatu (Sao Paulo), Brasil, com o objetivo de estimar a composicao e diversidade da fauna de aranhas associadas as arvores e serapilheira. Ao longo de 3 km de transeccao foram aplicadas as tecnicas da bandeja entomologica, captura manual e armadilha-de-solo tipo alcapao no interior e borda do cultivo. Foram obtidos 944 individuos de Araneomorphae pertencentes a 17 familias e 51 especies dos quais 87,3 % habitantes da copa das arvores. A assembleia destes predadores potencialmente tem impacto sobre as pragas arboreas mais proeminentes. Abstract This study was carried out in area of young commercial Eucalyptus grandis plantation (Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil) for the evaluation of the spider fauna composition inhabiting their trees and litter. Entomological trays, hand captures and pitfall traps were applied within and on the edges of the plantation along a 3-kilometer transeccion. A total of 944 Araneomorphae individuals belonging to 17 families and 51 species were collected, whereas 87.3% inhabiting the trees. This predator assemblage is has potential to impact against the most prominent arboreal pests. Resume Araignees d’une jeune plantation commerciale d’eucaliptus: diversite et predation en potentiel des especes arboricoles les plus frequentes. Cette etude a ete realisee dans des aires d’une jeune plantation commerciale d’Eucalyptus grandis, a Botucatu, Etat de Sao Paulo-Bresil, ayant comme objectif d’estimer la composition et la diversite des araignees associees aux arbres et a la litiere. Sur une etendue de 3 km, les techniques de plateaux entomologiques, de captures manuelles et de trappes enterrees, ont ete employees pour les echantillonnages, a l’interieur et sur le bord de la plantation. Un total de 944 individus de Araneomorphae appartenant a 17 familles et a 51 especes a ete recueilli, dont 87,3% etaient des residants de cime d’arbres. Les peuplements de ces predateurs en potentiel causent impacto sur leurs proies arboricoles les plus proeminantes.