Life Cycle of Oecobius annulipes LUCAS (Araneae: Oecobiidae) under Indoor Conditions and the Effect of Photoperiod on Nymphal Development

Abstract

Adult females of Oecobius annulipes LUCAS collected from April to early September lived for 1-4 months under indoor conditions and produced 1-6 egg-sacs, but those collected after mid September overwintered, and then began to produce egg-sacs in the following spring. Nymphs reared under natural and long (LD-16:8) photoperiods overwintered at the last instar or after attaining adulthood. Upon rearings under a short (LD-10:14) photoperiod, the instar at which they overwintered varied among individuals, but the time of emergence as adults in the follownig spring was about the same as that of individuals reared under natural and long photoperiods. Since adults appear in succession from April to early September and lay egg-sacs, there occurs an excessive generation overlap in the year.