Mansour, F., Div. of Entomology, ARO, Newe Ya'ar, P.O., Haifa, Israel
Rosen, D., Div. of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel
Shulov, A., Div. of Entomology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

The biology of Chiracanthium mildeiL. Koch was studied under standardized laboratory conditions (24±1°C, 55-60% RH). Specimens were reared from eggs, with 1- to 6-day-old Spodoptera larvae serving as prey throughout their life cycle. Biological studies included an investigation of the rate of development, life cycle, reproductive potential and behavior, as well as the influence of certain environmental factors on these parameters. Under standard laboratory conditions, C. mildei showed 87% survival from egg to functional fertility. Males required a mean of 182 (137-207) days after hatching to reach maturity, became adults following 7-8 molts, and lived for an average of 73 days as adults. Females required a mean of 231 (191-286) days after hatching to mature, reached adulthood after 9-10 molts, and lived for an average of 240 days as adults. Females were found to mate only once and to oviposit from 1 to 5 times (average 1.8), at 30-day intervals. They produced a mean of 35 eggs in the 1st hatch and 31 eggs in the 2nd. © 1980 Le François.