Faunal analysis and injuries characterization of Polistinae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in niagara rosada vineyards in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Ida Maria De Oliveira,Marcos Botton,Alci Enimar Loeck1,Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia

doi:10.14393/bj-v35n4a2019-42016

Ida Maria De Oliveira, Marcos Botton + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.14393/bj-v35n4a2019-42016

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Abstract

The State of Rio Grande do Sul is a major producer of grapes in Brazil, highlighting the Serra Gaúcha as the main producing region. In the pursuit of good quality in grapes it is essential the control of pests, especially insects. This study highlights the incidence of wasps, which cause serious damage at harvest time. This study aimed to characterize the community of social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) through faunal analysis and to examine the relationship of these insects with injuries to the grape berries in vineyards of Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul State. Therefore, active search were made in January and February 2014, followed by analysis of frequency, constancy, abundance, dominance and diversity. Ten species of wasps were able to use grape berries as food. The two dominant species were Polybia ignobilis and P. minarum, however, Synoeca cyanea has greater ability to break the intact berries. Other three species, Polistes cavapytiformis, P. versicolor and Brachygastra lecheguana, were also able to break the skin of grapes, but of damaged berries.

Highlights

Wasps are insects found in many environments such as native, agricultural and urban areas, with diverse foraging behavior as well as ecological and economic importance (WESTEBERHARD et al, 1995).The family Vespidae is composed of six monophyletic subfamilies, three of these occur in South America
This study aimed to identify the species of Polistinae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in Niagara Rosada vineyards in the municipality of Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul State, and to perform a faunal analysis with the assemblage found and to determine the relationship of insects with injuries to fruit
Active search was conducted by means of visual and spatial exploration to collect the target species during the months of January and February 2014, in vineyards of the grape variety Niagara Rosada (Vitis labrusca L.), in rural properties in the municipality of Bento Gonçalves, Serra Gaúcha, northeastern Rio Grande do Sul State

Summary

Introduction

Wasps are insects found in many environments such as native, agricultural and urban areas, with diverse foraging behavior as well as ecological and economic importance (WESTEBERHARD et al, 1995).The family Vespidae is composed of six monophyletic subfamilies, three of these occur in South America. Two subfamilies are made up of solitary wasps, Masarinae and Eumeninae, and one subfamily consists of social species, the subfamily Polistinae (CARPENTER; MARQUES, 2001). Adult social wasps feed on liquids, nectar, honey, and other sugary products, cell content and water (CARPENTER; MARQUES, 2001). Larvae are fed with protein diet from small insects trapped and macerated by adult wasps; this interaction has relevance in the biological control of pests (CARPENTER; MARQUES, 2001; PREZOTO; 2007). A number of harmful species have been frequently reported causing damage to berries (OLIVEIRA et al, 2012; BOTTON et al, 2012). A group of social insects have been reported frequently as harmful to the crop, and its attack is usually associated with the presence of bees (HICKEL; SCHUCK, 1995). Wasps are considered beneficial insects acting, for example, in the control of other insects, some agricultural pests (PREZOTO et al, 2006; ELISEI et al, 2010; PICANÇO et al, 2011; PREZOTO; BRAGA, 2013), and integrating the guild of pollinators (BARROS, 1998; SÜHS et al, 2009), but during the summer they can found a rich source of food in maturing grapes

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