First observations of a social wasp preying on termite workers

Sociobiology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Christopher K Starr
Keyword(s):  
West Indies ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
First Report ◽  
Nasutitermes Corniger ◽  
The Social

The social wasp Polybia quadricincta is observed preying opportunistically on workers of the termite Nasutitermes corniger in Trinidad, West Indies.  Several Polybia spp. and other social wasps are known to prey on winged reproductive, but this appears to be the first report of any preying on workers.

scholarly journals Is the social wasp fauna in the tree canopy different from the understory? Study of a particular area in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

Sociobiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Somavilla ◽  
Raimundo Nonato Martins de Moraes Junior ◽  
José Albertino Rafael
Keyword(s):  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Amazon Rainforest ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Insect Community ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Difference

Most studies about the insect community in rainforests only focus on the forest understory, and even though the rainforest canopy is one of the most fascinating and diverse environments, it remains poorly explored. Therefore, we analyzed the difference between the social wasp composition in these two strata at the ZF-2 Station in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, using flight interception traps (Malaise model Gressi and Gressi), in the rainforest understory and canopy. We collected ninety-two species belonging to 18 genera; Polybia was the richest genera (22 species), followed by Mischocyttarus (14) and Agelaia (13). Forty-four species were exclusively collected in the understory, twenty exclusively collected in the canopy, and twenty-eight in both strata. The understory was distinctly more diverse and more abundant than the canopy, while some rare or poorly collected species were only found in the canopy. We found a strong relationship between the species composition at the ZF-2 Station and the Ducke Reserve. Therefore, we suggest using traps in canopy in the Amazon biome as an effective method for collecting a higher diversity of social wasps.

scholarly journals The social wasp community (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) and new distribution record of Polybia ruficeps in an area of Caatinga Biome, northeastern Brazil

Check List ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1530 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Carneiro Melo ◽  
Bruno Corrêa Barbosa ◽  
Mariana Monteiro de Castro ◽  
Gilberto Marcos de Mendonça Santos ◽  
Fábio Prezoto
Keyword(s):  
Social Wasp ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Local Fauna ◽  
The Social ◽  
Caatinga Biome ◽  
Local Plant ◽  
First Time ◽  
Distribution Record

Social wasps are broadly distributed in Brazil, and their distribution is closely related to local plant composition. However, only a few studies on the diversity of these insects have been carried out in northeastern Brazil, and in Caatinga Biome the diversity is probably underestimated due to the lack of inventories for the region. Aiming at advancing the knowledge about the wasp fauna, we carried out this study from October 2005 to September 2006 in Ibipeba, northeastern Brazil. We collected 172 wasps of five genera and eight species, and recorded Polybia ruficeps Schrottky, 1902 for the first time in the state of Bahia. The most abundant species was Polybia ignobilis (Haliday, 1836) (n = 69), and the least abundant were Brachygastra lecheguana (Latreille, 1824) (n = 2) and Polistes canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 2). The present study inventory focused exclusively on the diversity of social wasps in an area of Caatinga, which contributes to advance the local fauna knowledge.

Polybia (Myrapetra) scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foraging on flies at carcasses of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae)

Sociobiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 728
Author(s):  
Anita Herdina ◽  
Gabriela Bitencourt ◽  
Rocco Di Mare ◽  
Bruno Corrêa Barbosa
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Polybia Occidentalis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Polybia Paulista

Social wasps stand out due to their role in the trophic balance of the ecosystems. These insects can get nutrients by preying on other insects, such as Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and the decomposing remains of vertebrates. Some species, such as Polybia scutellaris, can also use pollen and nectar stored in their nests to produce honey. Some studies lay emphasis on the prey captured by social wasps, showing that predation, in some conditions, is directed to Lepidoptera larvae, such as for Polybia occidentalis, Polybia paulista and Polybia ignobilis. Other species like P. scutellaris focus on flies of the Tabanidae, Syrphidae, Muscidae and Anthomyiidae families. There are few studies with social wasps that feed on animal carcasses; this way, our study aims to report the predation on individuals of the Sarcophagidae family, which use Rattus norvegicus carcasses as a food source, by the social wasp Polybia scutellari

scholarly journals Nesting associations between Chartergus globiventris Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and Tolmomyias sulphurescens Spix (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) in southeastern Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Magalhães Souza ◽  
Ângela Gomes Brunismann ◽  
Epifânio Porfiro Pires
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
The Social ◽  
De Se ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
First Time

Abstract. The success of social wasps is highly dependent on nest construction and colony maintenance. Species use different strategies to avoid nest predation, including forming associations with other insects and vertebrates. This study describes for the first time the association between the social wasp Chartergus globiventris Saussure and the yellow-olive flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens Spix in a deciduous seasonal forest fragment in southeastern Brazil. We located eight active C. globiventris colonies in the study site, three of which were associated with active T. sulphurescens nests. Bird-wasp associations in previous studies have been regarded as commensalism because only birds seem to benefit. However, further studies are needed to better understand the potential benefits of this relationship for both taxa.Associações de nidificação entre Chartergus globiventris Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) e Tolmomyias sulphurescens Spix (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) no sudeste do BrasilResumo. O sucesso das espécies de vespas sociais está relacionado tanto a construção quanto a manutenção das colônias. Várias espécies utilizam de diversas estratégias para evitar a predação de seus ninhos, como a associação com outros insetos e vertebrados. O presente estudo descreve o primeiro registro da associação da vespa social Chartergus globiventris Saussure com a ave Tolmomyias sulphurescens Spix em fragmento de Floresta Estacional Decidual no Sudeste do Brasil. Foram registradas oito colônias de C. globiventris ativas em diferentes espécies arbóreas, das quais três estavam associadas a ninhos ativos de T. sulphurescens. A associação entre a ave e a vespa tem sido tratada como comensalismo, pois apenas a ave obtém vantagens aparente, como discutido na literatura. Contudo, é necessário realizar experimentações ou análises mais aprofundadas a fim de se obter afirmações sobre os benefícios dessa relação.</p

scholarly journals Observations of neotropical social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) preying on eggs and tadpoles of the frog Engystomops pustulosus (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Christopher K. Starr ◽  
Rakesh Bhukal ◽  
Shane T. Ballah
Keyword(s):  
West Indies ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
The Social ◽  
Engystomops Pustulosus

In Trinidad, West Indies the social wasps Angiopolybia pallens and Polybia rejecta come to foam nests of the frog Engystomops pustulosus, where they prey on eggs and tadpoles. Frog offspring in early-stage foam nests appear to be almost immune to predation by the wasps, but they become more vulnerable as the nests age and lose definition.

Evaluating the efficiency of different sampling methods to survey social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in an anthropized environment

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Castro Jacques ◽  
Epifânio Pires ◽  
Marcel Gustavo Hermes ◽  
Lucas Del Bianco Faria ◽  
Marcos Magalhães Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Active Search ◽  
The Social ◽  
Area Sampling ◽  
Flower Visiting ◽  
Species Being

Social wasps play important ecological roles, such as the natural biological control of other arthropods as well as major components of the flower-visiting insect guild. Despite many studies focusing on the survey of these organisms in Brazil, information on the community structure of polistines in anthropized environmets is still rare. The goals of the present study were: i) to survey the social wasp fauna in an anthropized area in the transition of Cerrado and Atlantic Forest; ii) to investigate the efficiency of two sampling methods, namely active search for wasps and the use of attractive traps; iii) to investigate the performance of different attractive baits in the capture success of social wasps in the study area. Sampling of social wasps was conducted by actively searching for individuals and by using attractive traps. A total of 40 species was recorded, with Agelaia multipicta and Agelaia vicina species being the most frequently collected with attractive traps and Mischocyttarus cassununga by actively searching for wasps. In all analyses performed (except when comparing abundance of social wasps considering the molasses bait and the active search), actively searching for wasps was the best method. This is also highlighted by the fact that the time spent actively capturing polistines was considerably lower than the time (and costs) that the traps were left in the field. Active search, as demonstrated by previous studies, remains as the best capturing methodology when surveying Neotropical social wasps, either in natural or anthropized environments.

Additional knowledge respecting taxonomy of the social wasp genus Ropalidia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) from Vietnam, with new records of three species and an updated key to species

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4722 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
HOA THI QUYNH BUI ◽  
NGAT THI TRAN ◽  
HAKAN BOZDOĞAN ◽  
LIEN THI PHUONG NGUYEN
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
New Records ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Key To Species ◽  
The Social

Species composition of social wasps of the genus Ropalidia from Vietnam is reported, with 24 species having been recorded. Of those, three species are newly recorded for the Vietnamese fauna, namely Ropalidia binghami van der Vecht, 1941, R. parartifex Tan & van Achterberg, 2014 and R. variegata (Smith, 1852). The presence of R. sumatrae (Weber, 1801) in Vietnam is confirmed. An updated key to all recorded species of the genus Ropalidia from Vietnam is also provided. 

scholarly journals Conservation Units as a protection tool for social wasps in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. e20216125
Author(s):  
Glauco Cássio de Sousa Oliveira ◽  
Nathália Ribeiro Henriques ◽  
Mateus Aparecido Clemente ◽  
Marcos Magalhães de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
The State ◽  
Conservation Units ◽  
The Social ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Environmental Protection Area ◽  
Protection Area

Conservation Units are an important tool for the Brazilian biota protection. However, various taxa, including the social wasps, are undersampled or are unknown in these areas. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the social wasp richness and distribution in the Conservation Units in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. The social wasps were sampled between 2015 and 2019 in the Ritápolis National Forest (FLONA Ritápolis), in the Alto-Montana Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN Alto-Montana), in the Rio Machado Basin State Environmental Protection Area (APA Rio Machado) and in the Serra de São José Environmental Protection Area (APA Serra de São José), using two different sampling methodologies. Fourteen species were sampled for FLONA Ritápolis, 10 for RPPN Alto-Montana, 35 for APA Rio Machado and 19 for APA Serra de São José. Ninety-six social wasp species of the known richness in Minas Gerais were sampled in 14 Conservation Units, representing 90% of the fauna of the state. Thirty-four species are exclusive to these areas, with emphasis on the Rio Doce State Park, the Serra do Papagaio State Park, the Pandeiros River Wildlife Regufe and the APA Rio Machado. Most of the Conservation Units sampled are in the Atlantic Forest areas, but further efforts are needed in this biome, because of its accelerated destruction. There is still an urgent need for more studies in the Cerrado and Caatinga areas in the state, especially in Conservation Units.

scholarly journals Natural Biological Control of Diaphania spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by Social Wasps

Sociobiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Coutinho Picanço
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Fourth Instar ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
First Instar ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cucurbitaceae Family

The social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are important agents of biological control for agricultural pests. Diaphania hyalinata L. and Diaphania nitidalis Cramer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) are among the main pests of plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. Although the importance of social wasps is acknowledged, little is known about their activity as biological control agents in Diaphania spp. Thus, this work aimed to study the natural biological control of the caterpillars D. hyalinata and D. nitidalis by social wasps. We studied the natural biological control of caterpillars of D. hyalinata and D. nitidalis on cucumber hybrids Sprint 440 II and Vlasstar. The main predators of Diaphania caterpillars were the social wasps, followed by Diptera: Syrphidae; Hemiptera: Anthocoridae; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae, Anthicidae; Neuroptera: Chrysopidae and Arachnida: Araneae. Predation of D. hyalinata caterpillars by social wasps was high from the second to fifth instar. The predation of D. nitidalis caterpillars by social wasps was high from the second to fourth instar. There was no predation by social wasps on the first instar larvae of Diaphania spp. The cucumber hybrids did not influence the predation of Diaphania spp. by social wasps. The main social wasp predator of Diaphania spp. was Polybia ignobilis (Haliday). Also, we observed the social wasp Polybia scutellaris (White) preying on D. hyalinata but at low intensity. 

Morphophysiological and cuticular chemical alterations caused by Xenos entomophagus endoparasites in the social wasp Polistes ferreri (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 143 (14) ◽  
pp. 1939-1944 ◽  
Author(s):  
VIVIANA DE OLIVEIRA TORRES ◽  
EVA RAMONA PEREIRA SOARES ◽  
LUAN DIAS LIMA ◽  
SANDRO MARCIO LIMA ◽  
LUIS HUMBERTO DA CUNHA ANDRADE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Chemical Profile ◽  
Colony Cycle ◽  
The Social ◽  
Chemical Profiles

SUMMARYSocial wasps can face many challenges during their colony cycle, including the presence of parasites. The order Strepsiptera is among the main parasites of the wasp genus Polistes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an endoparasite species on the host Polistes ferreri, with the hypothesis that females of this social wasp would undergo morphophysiological alterations as well as changes in their cuticular chemical profile caused by the obligate endoparasite. On average, parasitism was found in 10% of the colonies studied. All the parasitized females showed filamentous ovarioles without developing oocytes, which indicates a physiological castration. Moreover, the endoparasites present in the gaster of females caused its volume to increase, and the presence of endoparasites changed the cuticular chemical profiles of females, confirming our hypothesis. It is likely that this parasitism effect could hamper the maintenance of wasp colonies.

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