Abstract
Introduction: Ephuta Say is a widespread New World genus of mutillid wasp whose ecology is poorly understood. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine how Ephuta species abundance varies annually and seasonally driven by weather conditions and hosts. Methods: Ephuta specimens, located in the “old forest” at Barro Colorado Island, were examined from weekly samples (2001-2006) of ten Malaise traps. The monthly abundance of each Ephuta species was compared with monthly average humidity, solar radiation, temperature and rainfall. Results: Nine species and ten morphospecies were identified. Most specimens were collected from March to June. April was the month reported with the greatest abundance. Of the four abiotic variables measured, only average monthly temperature was correlated with Ephuta abundance. Months with the highest number of Ephuta specimens were correlated with suspected host abundance, as indicated by the monthly abundance of Pompilidae (Hymenoptera) captured during the year 2007. Conclusions: We concluded that Ephuta display strong seasonal variation in abundance, with the peaks occurring during the end of the dry season and beginning of the rainy season, which correlate broadly with temperature and the abundance of their pompilid hosts.
Highlights
Ephuta Say is a widespread New World genus of mutillid wasp whose ecology is poorly understood
The March to June period of high Ephuta abundance coincided with the greatest species richness, which indicates the existence of a shared pattern of seasonality in all Ephuta species on Barro Colorado Island (BCI)
The similar effect of seasonal pattern on species richness and abundance suggests that these indices vary equitably among all Ephuta species on the study site
Summary
Ephuta Say is a widespread New World genus of mutillid wasp whose ecology is poorly understood. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine how Ephuta species abundance varies annually and seasonally driven by weather conditions and hosts. The monthly abundance of each Ephuta species was compared with monthly average humidity, solar radiation, temperature and rainfall. Of the four abiotic variables measured, only average monthly temperature was correlated with Ephuta abundance. Months with the highest number of Ephuta specimens were correlated with suspected host abundance, as indicated by the monthly abundance of Pompilidae (Hymenoptera) captured during the year 2007. Conclusions: We concluded that Ephuta display strong seasonal variation in abundance, with the peaks occurring during the end of the dry season and beginning of the rainy season, which correlate broadly with temperature and the abundance of their pompilid hosts
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