No abstract

This study was developed aiming to compile data concerning the occurrence and distribution of social wasp species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, as well as recording exclusive and rare species. For this purpose, we compiled studies from the specialized literature and created a table containing the species occurrence in the different states which present the phytogeographic domain. A total of 170 species was recorded, corresponding to almost a half of the richness of social wasps in Brazil, including 50 endemic, with highlight to Rio de Janeiro state, which nevertheless is insufficiently sampled. This way, from this work, it is concluded that Brazilian Atlantic Forest must be seen as an important refuge for Polistinae.

The present study was developed aiming to evaluate the richness and biogeography of social wasp species in the Brazilian savanna, Cerrado. In order to do so, we gathered data from specialized literature and field samplings performed at Sempre-Vivas National Park, northeastern Minas Gerais state. 18 genera and 137 species were recorded, with 4 endemic species of the Mischocytiarus genus. The results showed that Cerrado houses 40% of Brazilian Polistinae fauna and that Sempre-Vivas National Park is responsible for around 29% of this value, which makes it an important refuge for conservation of social wasps from Cerrado, as well as Mato Grosso state, due to its large number of restricted occurrence and endemic species. Nonetheless, there are Brazilian states and conservation units still lacking information for the taxon, making a bigger sampling effort in the Cerrado biome necessary, as it has been rapidly deteriorating due to human action.

O desmatamento imposto por culturas agrícolas afeta negativamente as interações ecológicas protagonizadas por determinadas espécies, como as vespas sociais. Uma hipótese é que o tamanho dos fragmentos florestais e sua proximidade destas culturas podem influenciar na nidificação das vespas sociais na área de plantio. Objetivou-se, portanto, testar esta hipótese. O trabalho ocorreu em Inconfidentes e Ouro Fino, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O método utilizado foi a busca ativa, percorrendo os fragmentos de mata e áreas associadas por um período de 32 dias, distribuídos entre janeiro de 2014 e janeiro de 2016. Foram amostradas duas áreas de plantio de café (A1 com 25 hectares e A2 com cinco) associadas a fragmentos de tamanhos diferentes. Foram registradas 55 colônias de 20 espécies. Na cultura associada a um sistema ecológico mais diversificado (A1), as vespas sociais estabeleceram suas colônias na planta do café. Na cultura associada a fragmentos menores e sistema ecológico mais simplificado (A2), elas apresentaram dificuldade de nidificação no cafezal. Entretanto, mesmo o fragmento florestal menor associado à A2 mostrou-se relevante para a manutenção das vespas sociais, evidenciando a importância da manutenção de fragmentos florestais próximo às culturas.

Mischocyttarus saussurei nests show a curious architectural pattern which could be related to colony camouflage. Since information on that species is scarce in literature, this study aimed to record ecological data on M. saussurei, as well as morphometric data on its nests. Data was collected at the Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca state park and at the municipalities of Barroso and Inconfidentes, Minas Gerais state, Southeastern Brazil. Seven colonies were located, exclusively in conserved environments. Five nests were dissected for morphometric analysis and for the assessment of the vegetal matter incorporated to comb walls. Nests showed comb cells opening towards the substrate and covered by vegetal layers, in which three families of mosses and three of liverworts could be identified. We deduct that the nests’ morphometry and the incorporation of vegetal layers to the combs are related to the camouflaging of colonies amidst their substrate.

Abstract. The Parque Estadual da Serra do Papagaio is the largest area of natural preservation in the south of Minas Gerais, with areas of Floresta Atlantica, Floresta de Araucaria and Campos de Altitude. Although this is an area of biological importance, there are many groups that have not yet been studied there: for example social wasps, which are insects belonging to order Hymenoptera, family Vespidae, which play an important ecological role in different ecosystems. This study was carried out in the aforementioned natural preservation area at altitudes between 1600 and 2200 m in 20 days of sampling between July of 2013 and April of 2014, using active searches and attractive traps to record species. Twenty two species of social wasps were sampled, distributed in seven genera. This number is small compared to counts from other studies in this state, which is probably due to the high altitude of this area. There was a predominance of nests with protective casings in the most common species recorded, and the most populous species was Polybia fastidiosuscula Saussure, a finding that can be explained by the superior thermoregulation afforded by the nest casing. Two other common species were Mischocyttarus drewseni Saussure, and Mischocyttarus rotundicolis (Cameron), which have nests without casings; however, these species have dark coloration, as does the substrate used for nesting, and can therefore enhance retention of solar radiation; nevertheless, other biotic and abiotic factors could be involved.

Dragonflies (Odonata) preyed by robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Insects of the Odonata order are important in aquatic ecosystems, acting sometimes as predators and sometimes as prey to birds, fish and other insects, such as the robber flies of the Asilidae family. However, records of this interaction are scarce for Brazil. The purpose of this report is notify the occurrence of predation of the odonata species Hetaerina longipes Selys, 1853 (Calopterygidae) and Argia claussenii Selys, 1865 (Coenagrionidae) by Archilestris capnoptera (Wiedemann, 1828). The records were occasionally made at the Parque Estadual Serra do Papagaio and at the Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, in the years 2015 and 2017. Predation may be a reflection of the frequency of odonate species at the time of the registrations, because the asilids are opportunistic and generalist predators. New studies are however needed to assess the impacts of predation on dragonfly populations.Resumo. Os insetos da ordem Odonata são importantes nos ecossistemas aquáticos, atuando como predadores e algumas vezes como presas, sendo predados por aves, peixes e também outros insetos, tendo como exemplo as moscas-assassinas da família Asilidae. Entretanto, registros dessa interação são escassos no Brasil, sendo o objetivo desse relato, notificar a ocorrência de predação das espécies de odonata Hetaerina longipes Selys, 1853 (Calopterygidae) e de Argia claussenii Selys, 1865 (Coenagrionidae) por Archilestris capnoptera (Wiedemann, 1828). Os registros foram realizados ao acaso no Parque Estadual Serra do Papagaio e no Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, nos anos de 2015 e 2017. A predação pode ser reflexo da frequência das espécies de odonatos na época dos registros, pois os asilídeos são predadores oportunistas e generalistas, porém, novos estudos são necessários para avaliar os impactos da predação nas populações de libélulas. Palavras-chave:Predação, Parque Estadual da Serra do Papagaio, Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca.

There are few studies on Odonata communities in Brazil, even in its most deeply studied states, such as Minas Gerais. Therefore, it is proposed the presentation of results on the Odonata species richness of Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca (Ibitipoca State Park), located at the Zona da Mata region in the Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This Conservation Unit is considered a priority area for the conservation of the state’s invertebrates. The objective of this study was to know the number of species within the area. 100 hours of sampling were carried out, distributed amongst five campaigns of four consecutive days between  November 2016 and July 2017. There were recorded 20 different species, including a new record for the state and one potential new species. Species richness was low due to the sampling being focused exclusively on lotic systems, and also to the environment’s homogeneity. Despite the low number of species, Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca is relevant to the conservation of the Minas Gerais state’s Odonata.