New records of the association between Polybia rejecta (Fabricius, 1798) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and Azteca chartifex Emery, 1896 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for the Caatinga and Amazon forest

Alexandre Somavilla,Itanna O Fernandes

doi:10.37486/2675-1305.ec02018

Abstract

Some neotropical social wasps are associated with certain vertebrates and other insects, like ants. These interactions have been reported for decades, but little is known about these associations in the caatinga biome. This study describes the first association record between the nests of Polybia rejecta wasps and Azteca chartifex ants in the caatinga of Piauí state and presents new records for Amazonas. This study supports the hypothesis that the association between the social wasps P. rejecta and A. chartifex ants is more common than previously documented. This new finding reinforces this association between different species not only for the Amazon and atlantic forest, but also for the caatinga biome.

Highlights

Some neotropical social wasps are associated with certain vertebrates and other insects, like ants
Wasps have evolved noticeably different means of defense against predatory ants such as (1) the selection of a safe nest site and using long thorns to anchor their nest (Jeanne 1975; Dejean et al 1998a), (2) the architectural properties of their nests which can be protected by an envelope or connected to the substrate through a long, thin, easy-to-defend petiole (Jeanne 1975), and (3) adaptive behavior such as constant vigilance, instantaneous escape, rapid movements, repellent chemicals smeared onto the nest petiole, the active guarding of the nest entrance, and agonistic defense with the use of venom or by ejecting the ants (Jeanne 1970, 1975, 1978; Post & Jeanne 1981; Kojima 1993; Dejean et al 1998b; Togni & Giannotti 2010; Grangier & Lester 2011)
Several social wasp species protect themselves from army ants by, paradoxically, forming associations with arboreal ants, which implies appropriate nest site selection by foundresses or swarms

Summary

Introduction

Some neotropical social wasps are associated with certain vertebrates and other insects, like ants. Army ants (Dorylinae) has been known to have a significant impact on the ecology and evolution of neotropical social wasps (Jeanne 1970, 1975, 1978; Young 1979; Chadab-Crepet & Rettenmeyer 1982; Corbara et al 2009; Le Guen et al 2015).

Results

Conclusion