Opportunistic Strategies for Capture and Storage of Prey of Two Species of Social Wasps of the Genus Polybia Lepeletier (Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini)

Abstract

The foraging activity in social wasps is complex behavior that involves the ability to locate and transport the resources necessary for the colony. The activity is opportunistic and generalist, sometimes adapting to the availability of the resources when the colonies are exposed to critical environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the opportunistic behavior of two species of wasps of the genus Polybia for the capture and storage of prey in the form of flights of winged. Five colonies of Polybia occidentalis (Olivier) and two colonies of Polybia paulista (L.) were collected. Six of them contained stored winged of termites, and one contained winged of ants. The results indicated that these two species practice an opportunistic foraging strategy and are able to store large quantities of protein resources in their colonies.

Niche overlap and daily activity pattern of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in kale crops

“…Thus, the presence of this pest may have stimulated the greater presence of P. ignobilis in the crop. Social wasp workers forage alone and opportunistically (Jeanne et al, 1995;Michelutti et al, 2017), being able to return to hunt in locations of previously successful hunts and feeding several times of the same species of prey (Raveret -Richter, 2000;Bichara-Filho et al, 2009). To optimize this form of foraging, signals can be exchanged among workers to facilitate the acquisition of resources for the colony (Taylor et al, 2011).…”

The use of Polistes versicolor (Olivier, 1971) in the control of Ascia monuste orseis (Godart, 1819) in kale cultivation

“…Carbohydrates and proteins are amenable to storage within the cells for consumption at a later date, and form a good store of reserve for the unfavorable seasons (MICHELUTTI et al, 2017); this results in a reduction in the foraging activities. Such storage abilities have been recorded earlier for the colonies of Polistes simillimus Zikán, Polybia paulista (Von Lhering), P. occidentalis, Mischocyttarus drewseni (Saussure) and Mischocyttarus cassununga (Von Ihering) (MICHELUTTI et al, 2017). However, foraging activities for water are also observed to decline during the cold and dry seasons, as water is principally utilized in the colony for keeping it cool, a finding earlier reported for P. versicolor (ELISEI et al, 2013).…”

“…After being attracted to the T1 treatment area, characterized by abundant food supply, P. ignobilis began to forage frequently this area, exhibiting a behavior pattern reported earlier for this species (RAW, 1998). Social wasp workers search for food alone and opportunistically (MICHELUTTI et al, 2017), returning to hunt in places of success of the previous hunt and feeding several times of the same species of prey (BICHARA-FILHO et al, 2009).…”