Diversidade de vespas sociais (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) em uma área de eucalipto em São João Del-Rei/MG

Abstract

Social wasps can be used as biological control agents in agricultural crops. Whereas to implement a program of integrated pest management, it is necessary to know the species that potentially can be natural enemies in that environment. Therefore, this study examined the diversity of social wasps in an area of Eucalyptus plantation associated with understory in the city of São João del-Rei/MG, for six months, from November 2009 to April 2010, in order to obtain satisfactory results in a short period on the diversity of the group in a system already modified by man. Attractive traps and active search were used as sampling methods. Thirteen species of seven genera of social wasps were recorded in the area of Eucalyptus plantation: Agelaia multipicta (50%), Agelaia vicina (2,13%), Mischocyttarus drewseni ( 7,45%), Parachartergus fraternus (3,19%), Polistes versicolor (11,7%), Polistes sp1 (2,13%), Polistes sp2 (3,19%), Polybia sp1 ( 7,45%), Polybia sp2 (2,13%), Polybia sp3 (1,05%), Polybia sericea (2,13%), Protopolybia sp (5,32%), Synoeca cyanea (2,13%). Seven species were captured by an active search, three by the attraction of the traps and three by both methods. The active search method captured approximately half of the individuals collected throughout the study period and had a higher species diversity (H '= 2.12) when compared to the method of traps containing passion fruit (H `= 1.47) and sardine (H `= 0.21). Most of the species (54%) were classified as accessory, followed by constant species (31%) and casual species (15%). During the study period, there was no correlation between climatic variables and the diversity and abundance of social wasps. The results indicate that the number of samples was sufficient for the proposed study. Therefore, in six months of survey it was possible to obtain information about the species of social wasps existing in Eucalyptus plantation and to provide satisfactory results on the diversity of the group that may contribute to the development of applicable methods to control insect pests, and if these ones will affect the monoculture.