Abstract
There are few studies dedicated to the natural history of Neotropical spider wasps (Pompilidae). When it comes to urban areas, the knowledge on these wasps is even scarcer. This study sheds light on the natural history of Auplopus cf. rufipes and A. cf. brasiliensis (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Ageniellini) from an urban Atlantic Forest fragment in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil. Auplopus cf. rufipes displays a multivoltine pattern and frequently nests in bamboo canes scattered in the open areas, whereas A. cf. brasiliensis is a rare sight, with only a single nest collected from a hose trap-nest. Females of the former species show aggressive behaviour, which suggests a solitary lifestyle. Their nests were partly enveloped in a complex structure, similar to other species that build free-standing, unconcealed nests and display some degree of sociality. Such behaviour could not be observed for A. cf. brasiliensis. Despite that, nests of both species were built using mud pellets, though the brood cells differed regarding arrangement and position in the trap. Two parasites were found attacking the cells: Caenochrysis crotonis (Chrysididae) in a cell of A. cf. rufipes, and Chaenotetrastichus neotropicalis (Eulophidae) in two cells of A. cf. brasiliensis, both recorded for the first time. Auplopus cf. rufipes was found to prey on Frigga cf. quintensis (Salticidae), the first record of this genus as a host of Auplopus.
Highlights
The pompilid wasps (Pompilidae) are cosmopolitan and most species are spider parasitoids, some genera are known to be cleptoparasites of other pompilids as well
The multivoltinism in the genus Auplopus was already observed for other species by Zanette et al (2004) for A. militaris (Lynch-Arribalzaga) and by Buschini et al (2007) for five unidentified species of Auplopus, with evidence that those species are multivoltine with at least three generations per year, a pattern that matched the observed for A. cf. rufipes in this study
The evidence gathered in this study shows that C. neotropicalis is a parasitoid
Summary
The pompilid wasps (Pompilidae) are cosmopolitan and most species are spider parasitoids, some genera are known to be cleptoparasites of other pompilids as well. The species of this tribe nest above the ground, using a variety of sheltered locations, and build their nest prior to finding a host In this tribe, the genus Auplopus (Auplopodina) is largely distributed throughout the Neotropical region and its species are known for building their nests using mainly mud (Wcislo et al, 1988; Dos Santos et al, 2017). The genus Auplopus (Auplopodina) is largely distributed throughout the Neotropical region and its species are known for building their nests using mainly mud (Wcislo et al, 1988; Dos Santos et al, 2017) This and other genera of Ageniellini, display levels of social behaviour, which is related with the nesting dynamic (Shimizu et al, 2010)
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