EFFECTS OF ABAMECTIN ON PHIDIPPUS AUDAX (HENTZ) (ARANEAE: SALTICIDAE) WHEN INGESTED FROM PREY¹

Phidippus audax (Hentz) were allowed to feed on bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), larvae which had ingested diet containing three concentrations of abamectin. Significantly reduced weight gain was noted for spiders feeding on the treated larvae and toxicity effects were visible in most of the spiders within 48 h. Over 80% of the spiders that fed on larvae from diet containing 10 ppm abamectin were either torpid or dead, and 100% of spiders that fed on larvae from diet containing 40 ppm abamectin were torpid or dead.