Uso da vespa social Polistes versicolor no controle de desfolhadores de eucalipto

Abstract

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os recursos forrageados por Polistes versicolor em área de reflorestamento com eucalipto e identificar as presas forrageadas. No período de janeiro a dezembro de 2007, foram realizadas 24 observações da atividade forrageadora de colônias de P. versicolor presentes em um reflorestamento de eucalipto, em Juiz de Fora, MG, totalizando 240 horas de registros. Durante as dez horas de observação diária, foram registrados e qualificados, a cada 30 minutos, os retornos das operárias para a colônia. Foram registrados 1.809 retornos, dos quais 51,63% foram com néctar; 6,85%, com água; 4,7%, com fibra vegetal; 17,41%, com presas; e 19,40%, sem recurso forrageado (improdutivos). As operárias de P. versicolor predaram exclusivamente lagartas de lepidópteros, que foram a única fonte de proteína animal oferecida aos insetos imaturos, na colônia. Dessa forma, a espécie estudada apresenta potencial como agente controlador biológico de herbívoros desfolhadores de eucalipto.Termos para indexação: Eucaliptus urograndis, controle biológico, lepidópteros, vespas sociais. Use of social wasp Polistes versicolor on eucalyptus caterpillar controlAbstract -The objective of this work was to determine the resources foraged by Polistes versicolor on an eucalyptus reforestation and to identify preys in the resources foraged. From January to December, 2007, 24 foraging activity observations were done on colonies of P. versicolor in an eucalyptus reforestation, in Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, totalizing 240 hours of registrations. During ten hours, the return of the workers to the colony was registered and qualified, every 30 minutes. In this work, 1,809 returns were registered, and 51.63% were with nectar; 6.85%, with water; 4.7%, with vegetable fiber; 17.41%, with preys; and 19.40%, without foraged resource (unproductive). Polistes versicolor workers preys exclusively caterpillars, that were the only animal protein source offered to the immature insects in the colony. Thus, the studied species can be used as a biological controller of eucalyptus defoliating herbivores.

Temporal Activity Patterns and Foraging Behavior by Social Wasps (Hymenoptera, Polistinae) on Fruits of Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae)

“…There was a positive correlation between abundance and the warmest times of the day (r = 0.7635; P = 0.0062). These results corroborate studies on social wasp foraging, in which the activity peak of wasps was observed in the warmest times of the day (Rezende et al 2001;Elisei et al 2010;Bichara Filho et al 2010;Castro et al, 2011). There was no wasp visit from 14:30 to 17:00h.…”

The Social Wasp Fauna of a Riparian Forest in Southeastern Brazil (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

“…Plt. versicolor is another species with a wide distribution in Brazil (Richards, 1978), which has been suggested as a biological control agent in certain crops, such as for control of the eucalyptus defoliator (Elisei et al, 2010). A colony of Plt.…”

What is the Ideal Weather for Social Wasp Polistes versicolor (Olivier) go to Forage?

“…These hymenopterans present predatory habit on a wide number of insects, providing animal protein used to feed the offspring. About 90 to 95% of the preys captured by social wasps are caterpillars (Prezoto et al 1994;Giannotti et al 1995;Prezoto et al 2006;raveret-richter 2000;eLisei et al 2010). Due to this behavior, the social wasps play an important role on the population control of species in the ecosystems, reducing the chances to appear great populations of preys, being as one potential biological controller of agricultural plagues.…”