An uncommon feeding habit: mutillid wasps (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) visiting extrafloral nectaries in Malpighiaceae

Luz, David R.; Rosa, Brunno B.; Williams, Kevin A.; Melo, Gabriel A. R.

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.01615

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…There are few records in the literature of adults of mutillidae wasps feeding on EFNs and still less in Brazil (Luz et al, 2016). However, we can see some evidence as showed by Luz (2016), which observed thirteen specimens feeding on EFNs of Banisteriopsis campestris and B. vernoniifolia. Furthermore, a study by Lenko (1970) showed females of T. latevittata in Mimosa sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…The adult females are wingless and usually immature parasitoids of other insects, especially bees and wasps, and males are most often winged and generally feed on nectar (Brothers, 1989). Furthermore, exudates from hemipterans and extrafloral nectar can also be collected by both females and males (Brothers, 1989;Luz et al, 2016). Therefore, this study aimed to report six fortuitous observations of velvet ants (mutillid wasps, Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) feeding on extrafloral nectar in different EFNs-bearing plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are rare velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) to feed on extrafloral nectar?

Calixto

Sousa-Lopes

Del‐Claro

2018

J. Env. Anal. Progr.

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Solitary aculeate wasps represent the family Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) with high sexual dimorphism. The adult females are wingless and usually immature parasitoids of other insects and males are most often winged and generally feed on nectar. There are few records in the literature of adults of Mutillidae wasps feeding on extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) and still less in Brazil. Here, we report six fortuitous observations of mutillid wasps feeding on extrafloral nectar and their behavior in different plants in a reserve of cerrado stricto sensu, in Uberlândia, Brazil. We observed six species of mutillid wasps: Traumatomutilla sp. and T. latevittata (Cresson, 1902) feeding on EFNs of Stryphnodendron polyphyllum (Mart.), Hoplocrates sp. feeding on the EFNs of Eriotheca gracilipes (K. Schum.), Timulla sp. feeding on the EFNs of Banisteriopsis malifolia (Nees & Mart.), Hoplomutilla sp. feeding on the EFNs of Qualea grandiflora (Mart.) and an unidentified male species in Q. multiflora (Mart.). All mutillid wasps showed similar behavior on the plants. They quickly climbed on to the plant and foraged over with frequent movements of the antennas until they found the EFNs. We suggest that it is not a fortuitous observation, neither rare. We are just not looking with the needed attention to EFNs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are rare velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) to feed on extrafloral nectar?

Calixto

Sousa-Lopes

Del‐Claro

2018

J. Env. Anal. Progr.

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“…They are parasitoids in nests of various wasps and bees [105,183]. Females feed on adults or immature offspring of the hosts [184] and both females and males feed on nectar, honeydew [184] and extrafloral nectar [185].…”

Section: Mutillidae (Velvet Ants)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Arthropods in the Douro Demarcated Region Vineyards: General Characteristics and Ecosystem Services Provided

et al. 2021

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Viticulture is one of the oldest and most profitable forms of agriculture; it is also one of the most intensive farming systems. As intensive cultivation threatens the environment, there is increasing interest in the concept of sustainability within the wine industry, as well as new business opportunities, as customers begin to pay more attention to environmental and sustainability issues. Recognizing the key role of soil quality in environmentally and economically sustainable viticulture makes it essential to understand better soil arthropod communities, given their crucial functions in maintaining soil quality and health. The ‘Douro Demarcated Region’ (DDR) in northern Portugal offers good potential, in regards to biodiversity, due to its significant areas of non-crop habitats. This work aims to compile information on soil arthropod communities (both soil surface and soil-living) collected in the DDR vineyard agroecosystems. A description of the ecosystem services provided by them, as a basis for the development and implementation of sustainable viticulture systems, is also an objective of this work. An important set of soil arthropods necessary for the delivery of vital ecosystem services for viticulture, with particular reference to supporting and regulating services, occurred in this ecosystem. Eight classes were chiefly represented in a sample of about 167,000 arthropod specimens: Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Entognatha, Insecta, Malacostraca, Pauropoda, and Symphyla. The most representative were Entognatha and Insecta in soil-surface arthropods, and Arachnida and Entognatha in soil-living arthropods. The presence of recognized groups as bioindicators in agroecosystems, such as soil quality indicators, is also revealed. This knowledge is expected to contribute to a more efficient and sustainable management of the viticultural ecosystem.

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Evaluation of Malaise and Yellow Pan Trap Performance to Assess Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Diversity in a Neotropical Savanna

Vieira

Waichert

Williams

et al. 2017

Environmental Entomology

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Given the global biodiversity crisis, it is crucial to identify methods best suited for conducting inventories. We evaluated the relative merits of Malaise traps (MT) and ground-level yellow pan traps (YPT) to sample male velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in a Neotropical savanna biodiversity hotspot. We compared richness, number of captures, evenness, composition, and body size of male velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) sampled with both methods in four sites at Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros, central Brazil, during 19 d. We expected reduced diversity and smaller body size of velvet ants sampled with YPT, because they target visually oriented insects that are active closer to the ground, whereas MT represent a passive method that intercepts insects flying at different heights. Richness, total number of captures, and evenness of species and genera were significantly higher in MT. The body size of velvet ants captured with MT was significantly larger than those found in YPT. Generalized linear model and nonmetric multidimensional scaling analyses revealed a clear difference in the patterns of abundances and composition of velvet ants sampled with MT and YPT, especially for the genera Darditilla, Traumatomutilla, Lomachaeta, Pseudomethoca, Tallium, and Ephuta. YPT were effective at capturing few species that were rare in MT but, overall, MT were much more effective than YPT. We found similar patterns when using either species or genus for assessing samples obtained with MT or YPT, suggesting that ecological studies on Neotropical velvet ants may not require taxonomic resolution to the species level.

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An uncommon feeding habit: mutillid wasps (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) visiting extrafloral nectaries in Malpighiaceae

Cited by 3 publications

References 6 publications

Are rare velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) to feed on extrafloral nectar?

Are rare velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) to feed on extrafloral nectar?

Soil Arthropods in the Douro Demarcated Region Vineyards: General Characteristics and Ecosystem Services Provided

Evaluation of Malaise and Yellow Pan Trap Performance to Assess Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Diversity in a Neotropical Savanna

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