Diversity of Social Wasps on Semideciduous Seasonal Forest Fragments with Different Surrounding Matrix in Brazil

Abstract

We surveyed social wasps (Polistinae) present in forest fragments of northwest of São Paulo state with different surroundings composed of a matrix of citrus crops and sugarcane in the expectation that the former matrix would be more diverse than the latter. We collected specimens actively using attractive liquids. We obtained 20 species in Magda, 13 in Bebedouro, 13 in Matão, and 19 in Barretos. The most common genus wasAgelaiain all of the areas. The greatest Shannon-Wiener index of diversity was obtained in Magda (H′=2.12). Species such asBrachygastra moebiana,Metapolybia docilis,Mischocyttarus ignotus,M. paulistanusandM. consimilishad not been recorded on recent surveys in the state. FurthermoreM. consimilisis a new record for the state. We concluded that, with our data, a relation between the occurrence of social wasps and the surrounding matrix was not detected.

The Social Wasp Fauna of a Riparian Forest in Southeastern Brazil (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

“…At least 30 minutes after spraying, active searching was performed by two independent collectors on the vegetation for 3 minutes with the aid of an entomological net (modified from Liow et al, 2001;Lima et al, 2010;Tanaka Junior & Noll, 2011).…”

“…Other studies have also noted the predominance of Epiponini in the total abundance of social wasps found. Representatives of this tribe constituted more than 70% in many studies conducted in Brazil (Santos, 1996;Mechi, 2005 -Campos et al, 2007;Morato et al, 2008;Santos et al, 2009b;Silva & Silveira, 2009;Auad et al, 2010;Alvarenga et al, 2010;Lima et al, 2010;Pereira & Antonialli-Junior, 2011;Tanaka Junior & Noll, 2011;Simões et al, 2012;Grandinete & Noll, 2013;Togni et al, 2014). However, when only nests are the targets of surveys, the abundance of Epiponini is often smaller, as observed in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais (Lima et al, 2000), with only 11.03% of the colonies belonging to this tribe and in Biritinga, Bahia, were 67.43% of the total abundance found was of Epiponini, yet only 25.71% of the nests found belonged to this tribe (Santos & Presley, 2010).…”

“…group of insects, researches related to diversity of social wasps in this country are increasing in number and have covered different regions, environments and biomes (Richards, 1978;Rodrigues & Machado, 1982;Marques, 1989;Marques et al, 1993;Diniz & Kitayama, 1994;Mechi, 1996;Santos, 1996;Lima et al, 2000;Raw, 2003;Marques et al, 2005;Mechi, 2005;Melo et al, 2005;Hermes & Köhler, 2006;Santos et al, 2006;Silva-Pereira & Santos, 2006;Souza & Prezoto, 2006;Elpino-Campos et al, 2007;Santos et al, 2007;Morato et al, 2008;Ribeiro Junior, 2008;Silveira et al, 2008;Souza et al, 2008;Santos et al, 2009a;Santos et al, 2009b;Alvarenga et al, 2010;Auad et al, 2010;Lima et al, 2010;Santos & Presley, 2010;Souza et al, 2010;Pereira & Antonialli-Junior, 2011;Silva et al 2011;Souza et al, 2011;Tanaka Junior & Noll, 2011;Jacques et al, 2012;Silveira et al, 2012;Simões et al, 2012 ;Auko & Silvestre, 2013;Grandinete & Noll, 2013;Togni et al 2014). In the State of S...…”

“…In the State of São Paulo, studies on diversity of social wasps are still scarce, mainly focusing on the Northwestern region, with studies in localities such as Paulo de Faria, Pindorama and Neves Paulista ), Patrocínio Paulista (Lima et al, 2010), Magda, Bebedouro, Matão and Barretos (Tanaka Junior & Noll, 2011); on the Central Eastern region, with researches in Rio Claro (Rodrigues & Machado, 1982), Luíz Antônio, Corumbataí (Mechi, 1996), and Santa Rita do Passa Quatro (Mechi, 2005); and finally at the Littoral in Ubatuba (Togni et al, 2014).…”

OCORRENCE OF <i>MISCHOCYTTARUS ROTUNDICOLLIS</i> (VESPIDAE) IN MANGROVE SWAMPS ATTRACTED BY FISH IN DECOMPOSITION

“…Noll and Gomes (2009) used an attracting liquid, a solution of sucrose and repeated by Junior and Noll (2011) where the number of individuals of the species M. rotundicollis caught in a preserved area, in Matão, São Paulo, Brazil, was only 2 wasps. In this study was used as bait, sardines in decomposition because it had not been used previously, being more efficient than a solution of sucrose.…”