Vespas sociais: influências antrópicas e conservação

Abstract

Urbanization is a necessary process, but it can have major impacts in the short and long term. A well-known and studied consequence of human activities in natural landscapes is the reduction of biodiversity and population declines, which represent the first step towards extinction. Thus, the present study aimed to assess how human actions such as the development of a large construction site and the application of insecticides impact on the local fauna of social wasps. In addition, the work also aimed to assess the environmental representation of social wasps in Brazil. At first, the social wasps were sampled before, during and after the construction of an enterprise. The richness and similarity of the species varied over the years and it was possible to identify resistant and susceptible species to the impact manifested by the implantation of the Botanical Garden of Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. To evaluate the action of Malathion insecticide, four concentrations were tested on three wasp species from two locations, an area with recurrent application of the insecticide and an area where there is no application. Overall, Malathion was selected for Polistes versicolor and more toxic for Protopolybia sedula and Polybia platycephala. Comparing the two areas, it was possible to verify an indication that the populations of non-target insects are also becoming resistant to insecticides, especially in urban environments. However, it is necessary to stress that the speed with which this occurs is very low and there is no way of predicting if and when there is a population of predatory social wasps resistant to Malathion. Finally, an online questionnaire was used to assess the environmental representation of social wasps in Brazil. Data obtained from 791 respondents were used. Most people know what a social wasp is and recognize its importance in nature. Men recognize nests better than women because, in most cases, they make the est removal. Regarding the feelings provoked by the wasps, 71% of the participants responded with disgust, fear or tension. Many participants also said that they were already or had know someone who have been attacked by wasps and shared their stories highlighting the popular names of social wasps and homemade medicines to relieve the pain of the sting. Even recognizing that wasps are beneficial to the environment, many people reported negative feelings about insects, showing that there is still a lack of a more elaborate approach in the field of environmental education in relation to social wasps.