Diversity and aspects of the ecology of social wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae) in Central Amazonian "terra firme" forest

Abstract

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.

Community of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in areas of Semideciduous Seasonal Montane Forest

“…The greatest richness of species recorded in this study for the genus Polybia corroborates with other surveys done in Minas Gerais (Elpino-Campos et al, 2007;Souza et al, 2014) and other regions in Brazil (Diniz & Kitayama, 1994;Somavilla et al, 2014). Nevertheless, those results differ from those recorded by Silveira (2002) and Silva and Silveira (2009) Twenty-one species of social wasps were common to both areas.…”

Effects of forest fragmentation on community patterns of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Central Amazon

“…Being the only species whose abundance increased in the fragment (44 to 187), our results suggest that P. rejecta might benefit, or even disrupt, ecological patterns and colonise disturbed sites where formerly dominant species were established. In addition, Somavilla et al (2014) found the great majority of P. rejecta individuals around clearings and open areas in an ombrophilous forest in Central Amazon, thus suggesting its adaptation to both human and naturally disturbed warmer habitats. In turn, Azteca ants are reported to thrive in transitional habitats, possibly due to higher colony survivorship and dispersal capabilities (Bruna et al 2005).…”

“…Nevertheless, overall species composition was significantly distinct between landscapes types (Fig. The influence of fragmentation on the abundance patterns of Agelaia pallipes and A. fulvofasciata is worrying, given that these species are among the most ecologically successful social wasps in preserved habitats (Somavilla et al 2014), capable of building strongly defended colonies containing millions of highly specialised individuals and well-protected cavities (Jeanne 1991;Zucchi et al 1995). We associate this pattern with the extensive loss of individuals from abundant species in the fragmented habitat.…”

“…The continuous habitat at Ducke Reserve comprises clearings, bottomlands, streams, slopes, plateaus with marked variation in vegetation diversity patterns and structure (Costa 2006;Costa et al 2009;Nogueira et al 2011). This allows for the establishment and survival of more species of social wasps, by creating distinct microhabitats for the organisms, providing greater protection from predators and increasing availability and diversity of food resources and nesting substrates (Wenzel 1991; Diniz & Kitayama 1994; Dejean et al 1998;Santos et al 2007;Somavilla et al 2014). In contrast, the fragmented habitat is completely isolated and surrounded by a highly disturbed urban matrix.…”

“…Such patterns demonstrate the fragility of abundant and common species facing human disturbances, as their main characteristic (being numerous) is often suppressed (Gaston 2010) and highlights that they may need conservation attention as much as rare species (Graça et al 2017). The influence of fragmentation on the abundance patterns of Agelaia pallipes and A. fulvofasciata is worrying, given that these species are among the most ecologically successful social wasps in preserved habitats (Somavilla et al 2014), capable of building strongly defended colonies containing millions of highly specialised individuals and well-protected cavities (Jeanne 1991;Zucchi et al 1995).…”