Polybia fasticiosuscula (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foraging activity patterns

Authors

  • Bruno Pandelo Brügger Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
  • Ricardo Alcántara-de la Cruz Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
  • Amélia Guimarães de Carvalho Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
  • Marcus Alvarenga Soares Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal dos Vales Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), 39100-000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
  • Fábio Prezoto Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário-Martelos, 36.036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
  • José Cola Zanuncio Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil;

Keywords:

biological control, feeding behavior, natural enemy, social wasps

Abstract

Prey identification expands our knowledge on social wasps and their interactions as predators of herbivorous insects. The objective was to characterize the Polybia fastidiosuscula Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foraging pattern in Jul 2015. Polybia fastidiosuscula workers returning to the nest were intercepted and captured with an entomological net at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Seven sampling sessions of 13 h each, from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, were carried out, totaling 91 sampling h. The prey collected (182 insects) were Lepidoptera (caterpillars, 92.6%), Araneae (3.1%), Diptera (2.5%), and Orthoptera (nymphs, 1.8%). Mean (± SD) wasp weight was 17.4 ± 3.3 mg, and mean weight of prey transported was 5.2 ± 2.5 mg. A P. fastidiosuscula worker can carry a load of about 30% of their own body weight. The foraging preference, principally of lepidopteran caterpillars, suggests that P. fastidiosuscula has potential as a natural enemy in integrated pest management programs.


 

Sumario

A identificação de presas expande o conhecimento sobre vespas sociais e suas interações como predadores de insetos herbívoros. O objetivo foi caracterizar padrões de forrageamento de Polybia fastidiosuscula Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Vespas operárias de P. fastidiosuscula, retornando ao ninho, foram interceptadas e capturadas com rede entomológica na Universidade Federal de Viçosa in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil em julho de 2015. Sete sessões de 13 h cada uma (06:00 às 19:00 h), totalizando 91 h de amostragem foram realizadas. As presas coletadas (182) são de Lepidoptera (92,6%), Araneae (3,1%), Diptera (2,5%), e Orthoptera (ninfas, 1,8%). O peso médio (± SD) da vespa foi de 17,4 ± 3,3 mg e o da presa transportada fixada de 5,2 ± 2,5 mg. Uma P. fastidiosuscula pode carregar uma carga de cerca de 30% do seu próprio peso corporal. A preferência pela alimentação em larvas, principalmente de lepidópteros, sugere que P. fastidiosuscula tem potencial como inimigo natural no manejo integrado de pragas.

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Author Biography

Bruno Pandelo Brügger, Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil;

Department of Entomology-UFV

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Published

2019-04-27

Issue

Vol 102, No. 1 (March 2019)

Section

Scientific Notes

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