Atividade forrageadora da vespa social Polistes versicolor (Olivier, 1791) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) em plantio de eucalipto no município de Juiz de Fora, MG

Abstract

On the development and maintenance of a social wasp colony, need to search and use environmental resources, as the water, used in the control of the temperature; vegetable fiber, utilized on the construction and repair of cells and comb; carbohydrate to feeding larvae and adults, obtained mainly in nectary and fruits; and animal protein, used to feeding larvae, proceeding, most of the time, to predation of caterpillar. On this way, the study of the forage schedule, material foraged and to transfers colonies to other areas, using the species Polistes versicolor as test, objectives of this study, can evidence characteristics of the species that reveal its potential in programs that aiming its use as agent control of eucalyptus plagues. On the period of January to December of 2007, were accomplished 24 observations of the P. versicolor foraging activity colonies were present in an eucaliptal, on the municipal district of Juiz de Fora, MINAS GERAIS, totalizing 240 hours. During 10 hours were registered, to every 30 minutes, intensity light, wind speed, air humidity and temperature on the colony proximities; also were registered and qualified, the workers' returns according to methodology proposal for Prezoto et al. (1994). On the same period, were transferred 20 P. versicolor colonies, in post-emergency, retreats of human constructions and transferred for artificial shelters installed in eucalyptus plantation. The P. versicolor foraging activity began about the seven hours and thirty minutes and it extended even 18 hours. The workers average of departures/hour were 9.62 ±16.67 (0-84) with a total of 1792 on 240 hours observation, and returns/hour 9.76 ±18.14 (0-87) with a total of 1809 on the observation hours. The colonies activity pick happened on the period understood between the 10 hours and even 15 hours. The Spearman correlation test revealed that the P. versicolor workers exits were stimulated by the increase of the light intensity and air temperature; and decrease of the humidity. The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that air temperature is the variable that most influence on the P. versicolor foraging activity. On this work was registered 1809 returns, being 51.63% were with nectar; 6.85% water; 4.7% vegetable fiber; 19.40% unproductive and 17.41% with preys. P. versicolor workers preying exclusively caterpillars, being this only animal protein offered to the immature ones that were developed in the colony. The 20 P. versicolor colonies used in the work was collected and transferred with 85% of success, due to the fact of after the establishment of the colony in the artificial shelter, the individuals stayed in the nest. The present study revealed that P. versicolor offered characteristics that make possible its use in programs of handling integrated plagues using wasps as agents of biological control.