16.9 km 2 is the main island (Lopes and Ulbrich, 2015), and the remaining area is distributed among 20 smaller islands, of which Rata Island is the largest with 0.8 km 2. The archipelago has suffered major ecological disturbances due to several human interventions. In 1737, fortifications were built, and the archipelago was transformed into a penal colony for almost 200 years. During this period, a large part of the native vegetation was devastated while exotic plants and animals were introduced to serve as food (Teixeira et al., 2003; Serafini et al., 2010). The human population in the archipelago increased significantly in 1942 through military occupation (i.e., World War II). Afterwards, significant changes were observed in the archipelago due to: • Several insecticide applications campaigns (i.e., DDT) for mosquito-control; • Wild animal introductions, such as the Teju lizard (Salvator merianae Duméril & Bibron) and the Mocó cavy (Kerodon rupestris Wied-Neuwied); • Release of birds seized in trade fairs and public markets of Recife (i.e., Saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola (Linnaeus)), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus (Linnaeus)), and the White-bellied seedeater (Sporophila leucoptera (Vieillot));

Some neotropical vespids are known for their association with other insects and vertebrate taxa. In the present study about the wasp diversity in the Ducke Reserve, Manaus, Brazil five active colonies and an abandoned one of Polybia rejecta, and one active colony of Synoeca virginea were found associated with ant nests of Azteca aff. chartifex (Formicidae). A single colony of Polybia rejecta was found beside nests of Cacicus cela (Passeriformes: Icteridae). These associations appear to be related both to protection of the wasps nests by the ants and the protection of the ants nests by the wasps, as well as to protection of the bird nests by the wasps. The wasps take advantage of the tolerance of the ants, nesting near their colonies to obtain protection, so escaping attack by other ant species that feed on the immature wasps. Birds in turn take advantage of protection by these wasps against potential predators. This work adds new data to the study of associations of wasp species found in Central Brazilian Amazon, with descriptions of observed behaviors and photographs of such associations. Resumo: Alguns vespídeos neotropicais são conhecidos por realizarem associações com outros táxons de insetos e vertebrados. Neste estudo sobre diversidade de vespas na Reserva Ducke, Manaus, Brasil foram localizadas cinco colônias ativas e uma abandonada de Polybia rejecta e uma colônia ativa de Synoeca virginea todas associadas aos ninhos de Azteca aff. chartifex (Formicidae). Uma única colônia de Polybia rejecta foi localizada ao lado de ninhos de Cacicus cela (Passeriformes: Icteridae). Essas associações parecem estar relacionadas tanto à proteção dada pelas formigas aos ninhos de vespas e vice-versa, quanto à proteção dada pelas vespas aos ninhos de pássaros. As vespas usam a tolerância das formigas e nidificam próximo às suas colônias para obtenção de proteção contra formigas predadoras que se alimentam das formas imaturas das vespas. Por outro lado, os pássaros podem usar a proteção das vespas contra possíveis predadores. Os comportamentos observados foram descritos e fotos destas associações foram feitas; este trabalho acrescenta novos dados ao estudo das associações realizadas por espécies de vespas encontradas na Amazônia Central brasileira.

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ABSTRACT. Diversity and aspects of the ecology of social wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae) in Central Amazonian "terra firme" forest. The knowledge of social wasp richness and biology in the Amazonian region is considered insufficient. Although the Amazonas state is the largest in the region, until now only two brief surveys were conducted there. Considering that the systematic inventory of an area is the first step towards its conservation and wise use, this study presents faunal data on social wasp diversity in a 25 km 2 area of "terra firme" (upland forest) at the Ducke Reserve, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Wasps were collected in the understory, following a protocol of three collectors walking along 60 trails 1,000 m in extension for 16 days between August and October 2010. Methods used were active search of individuals with entomological nets and nest collecting. Fiftyeight species of social wasps, allocated in 13 genera, were recorded; 67% of the collected species belong to Polybia, Agelaia and Mischocyttarus; other genera were represented by only four species or less. The most frequent species in active searches were Agelaia fulvofasciata (DeGeer, 1773), Agelaia testacea (Fabricius, 1804) and Angiopolybia pallens (Lepeletier, 1836). Twelve species were collected in nests. Prior to this study, 65 Polistinae species were deposited at the INPA Collection. Collecting in the study grid, an area not previously sampled for wasps, resulted in an increase of 25% species, and species richness was 86. According to the results, there is evidence that the diversity of social wasps at the Ducke Reserve is even higher, making it one of the richest areas in the Brazilian Amazonia.

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Landscape fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to environments globally, affecting all living organisms within fragments at many assembly levels. Despite such general assumptions, very few reports exist on the diversity patterns of Amazonian social wasps (Polistinae) in response to fragmentation. Our study aims at addressing how the community patterns of social wasp change from continuous to fragmented landscapes in the Amazon rainforest. We collected social wasps for a year (11 520 trap-hour effort) in a continuous forest and a highly disturbed urban forest fragment, located in Manaus, Brazil. We attracted wasps using sardine and orange juice traps, placed in 20 sampling plots. We collected 2742 wasps from 29 species. Agelaia pallipes, Angiopolybia pallens and Agelaia fulvofasciata were the most abundant species. We detected significant differences in overall abundance, species richness and species composition of social wasps between landscapes. Conversely, no difference in species diversity (effective number of species) was found between habitats. Despite the low quantity of exclusive species, the numbers of most species declined sharply in the fragmented habitat, while for one species (Polybia rejecta), abundance increased. Regarding the percentile of species contribution to dissimilarity between landscapes, five out of the first six species were highly abundant (>100 individuals), thus demonstrating that the observed pattern was very likely driven by common species. Additionally, our findings highlight that fragmentation threatens abundant species as much as rare species. We hope that our results encourage the use of social wasps as models in basic and applied ecological surveys and further efforts for conservation of pristine forest areas in the tropical region of South America.

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