Abstract
Prey identification expands our knowledge on social wasps and their interactions as predators of herbivorous insects. The objective was to characterize the Polybia fastidiosuscula Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foraging pattern in Jul 2015. Polybia fastidiosuscula workers returning to the nest were intercepted and captured with an entomological net at the Universidade Federal de Vicosa in Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Seven sampling sessions of 13 h each, from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, were carried out, totaling 91 sampling h. The prey collected (182 insects) were Lepidoptera (caterpillars, 92.6%), Araneae (3.1%), Diptera (2.5%), and Orthoptera (nymphs, 1.8%). Mean (± SD) wasp weight was 17.4 ± 3.3 mg, and mean weight of prey transported was 5.2 ± 2.5 mg. A P. fastidiosuscula worker can carry a load of about 30% of their own body weight. The foraging preference, principally of lepidopteran caterpillars, suggests that P. fastidiosuscula has potential as a natural enemy in integrated pest management programs.
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