Studies of social wasp diversity in Brazil: Over 30 years of research, advancements and priorities

Abstract

The first records of social wasps in Brazil were made during expeditions that focused on the taxonomy and distribution of the species in the country. From the 70s there was a change in the essence of publications on the diversity of social wasps, which began to be directed to a specific place, which over the years have incorporated the use of sampling methodologies and analysis of results through ecological indexes. Since then, the neotropical social wasps have gained more prominence because of the recognition that act decisively in the trophic balance of ecosystems, thus increasing interest in research on these insects. So, our aim was to conduct a detailed analysis of published studies diversity of social wasps in Brazil over the past 33 years, aimed at increasing knowledge about the history of these works. For the literature review criteria were adopted: keywords with the matter and publications indexed in databases within the defined period. We found 78 publications, with the majority (70.52%) in scientific journals. From the year 2005, there was a regularly featured in publications with the years 2010, 2012 and 2014 as the most productive and a concentration of studies in BA, MG and SP states. Were used 11 collection methods, however there no a pattern of time or collection methodology, highlighting the Search-Active methods and Attractive Trap. The contribution of this analysis is to extend the current status of knowledge of social wasps with research as well as guide and encourage future studies to places unexplored.

Updating the geographic records of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in Roraima state

“…Amazon region has the highest diversity of Polistinae (Richards, 1978;Carpenter & Marques, 2001;Barbosa et al, 2016). In Brazilian Amazon 20 genera and more than 200 species have been recorded, which represents about 2/3 of the Brazilian fauna (Silveira, 2002), with 125 species recorded only for the state of Amazonas (Barbosa et al, 2016).…”

“…In Brazilian Amazon 20 genera and more than 200 species have been recorded, which represents about 2/3 of the Brazilian fauna (Silveira, 2002), with 125 species recorded only for the state of Amazonas (Barbosa et al, 2016). Nevertheless, this impressive number surely does not yet represent the region's mega diversity, since there were only four studies carried out on this state (Barbosa et al, 2016). This statement becomes clear when we see the state of Roraima: with reports of Richards (1978) and Raw (1998) work 40 species.…”

“…Brazilian Amazon rainforest has one of the greatest biodiversity in world, being registered the higher diversity of social wasps in this biome -20 genera and more than 200 species were recorded, representing about 70% of the Brazilian fauna of social wasps (Silveira, 2002;Barbosa et al, 2016).…”

Survey of social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) in Amazon rainforest fragments in Acre, Brazil

“…The Brazilian Amazon rainforest has one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, including the greatest diversity of social wasps (Silveira 2002;Somavilla et al 2014;Barbosa et al 2016). The western Amazon (which includes parts of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Brazil) is one of the most biodiverse regions of the planet for many taxa (Brown 1977(Brown , 1991Calouro 1999;Carpenter and Marques 2001;Ceballos and Ehrlich 2006;Carvalho and Esposito 2010;Barbosa et al 2016).…”

Resource Storage in the Neotropical Social Wasp Mischocyttarus socialis (Saussure, 1854) (Vespidae: Polistini)

“…Despite the species' reported presence in various diversity studies (Barbosa et al, 2016), there is almost no data on its behavior or basic biology, and it is unknown whether the species presents food storing behaviors such as other Mischocyttarus species (Guimarães et al, 2008). Aiming to fulfill this lack of information, our objective in this study was to report the storage of honey in M. socialis colonies.…”