Effectiveness of two sampling methods used for collecting Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) in the Cabañeros National Park (Spain)

Abstract

Abstract. When estimating the species richness of a taxonomic group in a specific area, the choice of the trapping method is extremely important. In this study the effectiveness of Malaise and Moericke yellow pan traps for collecting flying Ichneumonidae was compared. Samples were collected in 5 habitats in the Cabañeros National Park: pastureland, shrubland and three types of woodland. Two traps of each type were placed in each habitat, and samples collected over a period of one year, replacing the pots every 20 days. The study focused on eleven subfamilies of Ichneumonidae. The results showed that the composition of the Ichneumonidae in the catches of the two traps differed. Malaise traps were more effective in collecting Ichneumonidae in all habitats, but especially in the ash woodland. Moericke traps yielded the most abundant catches in open areas with a wider field of vision. The subfamily Orthocentrinae occurred more frequently in the Moericke yellow traps. The Ichneumonidae caught by both trapping methods differed, especially in the relative abundance of the most common species. When compiling an inventory of species it is extremely important to use a combination of both trapping methods.

Optimising Capture Methods for the Evaluation of Parasitoid Wasp Diversity

“…This is unusual, as studies conducted overseas frequently find either a female bias or a relatively even sex ratio (e.g. Mazon & Bordera, 2008).…”

“…To capture a reference sample of Ichneumonoidea, yellow pan traps required ten times the effort, and regular flight intercept traps required double. Mazon & Bordera (2008) caught 88% of their ichneumonid specimens in Malaise traps, and only a few species were unique to pan traps. In a similar study, Malaise traps consistently provided higher species richness and a more even catch compared to yellow pan traps or regular flight intercept traps (Wells & Decker, 2006).…”

“…However, recommendations will of course differ if the aim is an exhaustive inventory of mega-diverse groups such as parasitoid wasps. This is because no study attempting to compromise between sampling effort, time, or cost, will be able to provide a complete species inventory of parasitoid wasps (or many other arthropod groups) (Mazon & Bordera, 2008;Longino et al, 2002;Noyes, 1989). …”

Diversidade e métodos de amostragem de Hymenoptera na cultura da melancia no semiárido

“…Esta informação confirma o potencial da armadilha Moericke na captura de Hymenoptera, entretanto, diversos autores sugerem o uso combinado de diferentes métodos de coleta para amostragem de himenópteros (Noyes, 1989;Mazón & Bordera, 2008 É interessante salientar que 88,60% (1.500) dos exemplares de Formicidae obtidos neste estudo foram capturados nas armadilhas Pitfall (Tabela 2). Esta armadilha é bastante utilizada para estudos mirmecológicos (Vargas et al, 2007;Cerdá et al, 2009) e captura em geral insetos com hábitos edáficos.…”

“…Contudo, diversos autores recomendam a utilização combinada de diferentes métodos de coletas e a combinação de diferentes armadilhas para amostragem da fauna de Hymenoptera (Noyes, 1989;Mazón & Bordera, 2008;Teixeira, 2012). Missa et al (2009) afirmaram que, quando diferentes métodos de amostragem são utilizados, o resultado é uma captura mais diversificada de insetos do que a obtida quando apenas um método é utilizado.…”