Flight distance and return capacity of Polistes lanio lanio (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) workers

Authors

  • Reinildes Silva-Filho Departamento de Entomologia e Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 238900-00, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Bruno Pandelo Brügger Universidade Federal de Viçosa
  • Carlos Augusto Corrêa Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Laila S Araújo de Souza 3Departamento de Medicina, Centro Universitário Governador Ozanam Coelho, 36506-022, Ubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Paulo Cesar Rodrigues Cassino Departamento de Entomologia e Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 238900-00, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • José Cola Zanuncio 2Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Paulo Roberto Ramalho Silva Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Severino Sombra, 27700-000, Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Marcus Alvarenga Soares Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), 39100-000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Antonio José Vinha Zanuncio Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Social wasps find prey mainly using olfactory cues when foraging. Flight area and the ability to return to the nest after this activity was studied for the predatory wasp Polistes lanio lanio (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) using mark-recapture techniques. One hundred workers of this wasp were removed from 20 nests (5 per nest), marked on the mesothorax, and released after 2 d. Wasps were released at different times and distances to reduce memorization of the flight path. We determined that P. lanio lanio workers’ hypothetical foraging area was 13.2 km2 based on their greatest return capacity to nests.

Key Words: foraging; nests; social wasps; workers

Resumo

Vespas sociais localizam lagartas usando principalmente pistas olfativas quando forrageando. A área de voo e a capacidade de retornar ao ninho após esta atividade foram estudadas para a vespa predadora Polistes lanio lanio (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) usando técnicas de marcação e recaptura. Cem operárias desta vespa foram removidas de 20 ninhos (5 por ninho) marcadas no mesotórax e liberadas após dois dias. As vespas foram liberadas em diferentes momentos e distâncias para reduzir a memorização do trajeto do voo. Nós determinamos que a área hipotética de forrageamento das operárias de P. lanio lanio foi de 13.2 km2 com base em sua maior capacidade de retorno aos ninhos.

Palavras Chave: forrageamento; ninhos; operárias; vespas sociais

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Author Biography

Bruno Pandelo Brügger, Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Department of Entomology-UFV

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Published

2020-04-15

Issue

Vol. 103, No. 1 (March 2020)

Section

Research Papers

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