Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize the local fauna of Hymenoptera parasitoids associated with Lepidoptera larvae in areas of reforestation and agrosilvopastoral systems at Fazenda Canchim (Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos, SP, Brazil). Lepidoptera larvae collected with entomological umbrella were kept in the laboratory until emergence of adults or their parasitoids. From those collected in the agrosilvopastoral system, emerged 267 specimens of hymenopteran parasitoids belonging to 16 genera: Braconidae, Agathidinae (Alabagrus), Braconinae (Bracon), Microgastrinae (Cotesia, Diolcogaster, Glyptapanteles, Pholetesor and Protapanteles), Orgilinae (Orgilus); Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae (Casinaria, Charops and Microcharops); Chalcididae, Chalcidinae (Brachymeria and Conura); Eulophidae, Entedoninae (Horismenus), Eulophinae (Elachertus and Euplectrus). From the Lepidoptera larvae collected in the reforestation, emerged 68 specimens of hymenopteran parasitoids, belonging to 8 genera: Chalcididae, Chalcidinae (Conura); Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae (Neotheronia), Campopleginae (Charops and Microcharops) and Braconidae, Microgastrinae (Apanteles, Diolcogaster, Distatrix, Glyptapanteles and Protapanteles). The results of this study suggest the occurrence of a wide variety of Hymenoptera parasitoids in the studied environments.
Highlights
The Hymenoptera are a key group to establish priorities for conservation, because they are sensitive to changes in land use and habitat quality and fulfill important ecological roles
Many Lepidoptera are distinguished as pests that affect agricultural production, which stimulated researches in the areas of taxonomy and biology in order to use Hymenoptera parasitoids for biological control of these insects (Souza et al, 2006)
129 Lepidoptera larvae were collected in reforestation (R), 14 of which were parasitized (10.8%)
Summary
The Hymenoptera are a key group to establish priorities for conservation, because they are sensitive to changes in land use and habitat quality and fulfill important ecological roles Within this group, the parasitoids control the population of other insects that interfere in trophic chains of most agroecosystems (Perioto et al, 2004). Many Lepidoptera are distinguished as pests that affect agricultural production, which stimulated researches in the areas of taxonomy and biology in order to use Hymenoptera parasitoids for biological control of these insects (Souza et al, 2006). This information becomes relevant when seeking recovery environmental indicators because the Hymenoptera have high diversity and can be sampled by a variety of methods. Biodiversity inventories report the spatial distribution of biological elements (Kremen et al, 1993; Samways, 1993) and allow the characterization of the community that can be used in proposals for monitoring and conservation of environments (Longino and Colwell, 1997)
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