Abstract
This work aims to recognize and record the occurrence of species of social wasps (Polistinae) in organic tobacco crops, as well as to point out possible species that may be used in future biological control programs. The research was conducted in Virginia-type tobacco farming with organic management in two regions in south of Brazil. The collections were carried out with Malaise trap, during the harvests 2008/2009, 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. A total of 2.738 wasps, from which 23 species distributed in six genera was collected. Polistes was the most diverse genus (8 species), followed by Polybia, Mischocyttarus, Agelaia, Bachygastra and Protonectarina. Polybia scutellaris was the most abundant species, being considered eudominant. Agelaia multipicta and Polybia sericea with are also among the most abundant. This information is relevant for the insertion of social wasps with potential agents in the biological control of tobacco pests.
Highlights
Vespidae comprise species that are remarkably abundant, widely distributed (Carpenter & Marques, 2001), and actively participate in local food webs (Santos et al, 2007)
Polistinae comprise the most diverse group, with more than 950 species described worldwide (Pickett & Carpenter, 2010), of which about 300 species occur in Brazil (Carpenter & Marques, 2001; Catálogo Taxonômico Da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB), 2017)
Aiming at the current needs of cropping systems to the detriment of conservation and maintenance of the environment, this work aims to recognize and record the occurrence of species of social wasps (Polistinae) in organic tobacco crops, as well as to point out possible species that may be used in future biological control programs
Summary
Vespidae comprise species that are remarkably abundant, widely distributed (Carpenter & Marques, 2001), and actively participate in local food webs (Santos et al, 2007). The most common subfamilies in Brazil are Polistinae, Eumeninae and Masarinae (Carpenter & Marques, 2001; Pickett & Carpenter, 2010). Polistinae comprise the most diverse group, with more than 950 species described worldwide (Pickett & Carpenter, 2010), of which about 300 species occur in Brazil (Carpenter & Marques, 2001; CTFB, 2017). Predatory wasps play a key role in pest control, preferring to prey on caterpillar (Lepidoptera), which are economically important, such as Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), Alabama argillacea (Hübner, 1823), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner , 1818 and Heliothis virescens (Fabricius, 1777), and others, which constitute the most common pests on small farms in tropical environments (Picanço et al, 2012; Prezoto et al, 2019; Lourido et al, 2019). According Jacques et al (2015) the presence of wasps of the genus Polistes in different cultures is associated with reduced damage caused
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