Abstract
Fifty five nests and 216 cells of Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) rogenhoferi were obtained from trap-nests (cut bamboo canes) in Santa Carlota Farm (Itaoca Section = IS and Santana Section = SS), Cajuru and on the São Paulo University Campus, Ribeirão Preto (= RP), both in the State of São Paulo, Brazil (Sept. 1993-Oct. 1995). The prey (spiders) of 40 cells from IS, 58 from SS and 39 from RP were identified. The greatest nesting frequency occurred during the hot and wet season (September to April). T. rogenhoferi preyed upon individuals of five spider families, with Araneidae (orb-weaver spiders) being the most frequent (99.6%). Alpaida aff. negro (58%) was the most frequently collected species in IS, followed by A. alto (24.8%); in SS (59.6%) and RP (64.7%) the most frequent species was A. veniliae, followed in SS by A. aff. negro (14.9%) and in RP by A. leucogramma (13.5%). The size of reproductive niches, H' = 1.25 (IS), H' = 1.30 (SS) and H' = 1.29 (RP) were not significantly different. There was a positive correlation between the reproductive niche width (H') and evenness.
Highlights
Species of the genus Trypoxylon, sub genus Trypargilum, are restricted to the Western Hemisphere from Canada to Argentina
In addition observations obtained from trap-nests placed in three s.ites. ipsoutheastem Brazil are presented to reveal sorne parameters of their reproductive niches
CoUected prey: Five families of spiders were found with Araneidae being the most rre quent in all of the sites in number of genera
Summary
Species of the genus Trypoxylon, sub genus Trypargilum, are restricted to the Western Hemisphere from Canada to Argentina. One important species characteristic in Sphecidae is the species of prey that females captured This i8 important froID botb evolu tionary and taxonomic perspectives. These wasps collect prey in places where people do not normal1y look (Genaro et al 1989); nests of these wasps can provide vast collec tions of spiders, including rarely collected species (Coville 1987). The internal diameter of nests ranged from 7 to 25 mm, and nest lengths ranged from 70 to 250 mm These TN (450 in RP, 450 ín SS and 200 in IS) were tied together in batches of six to eight units and placed on the shelves of shelters built at the study locations.
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