The social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) of a fragment of Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened ecosystems in Brazil, with only 22% of its original coverage remaining. Despite around 900 species of Polistinae being described worldwide and their being widely distributed in the Neotropical region, they are still poorly known in northeastern Brazil, especially in Atlantic Forest. The aim of this work was a survey of social wasps in three fragments of Atlantic Forest with differences in the level of regeneration and in the physiognomy, performed at Michelin Ecological Reserve (located in Igrapiúna, southern Bahia State, Brazil) and employing three methodologies – attractive solution, Malaise trap and light trap ‘Luiz de Queiroz’ – for 12 months in transects. A total of 1066 specimens, belonging to 29 species from nine genera, were collected in the reserve. Epiponini was the richest tribe (23 species) followed by Mischocyttarini (five species) and Polistini (one species). The Malaise trap was not efficient during the night, having a deficit of 5110 hours; the only nocturnal genus, Apoica, was collected with a light trap – an attractive solution that was more efficient. Once it was left for 12 discontinuous days (72 hours), showing that more than one methodology is desirable for wasp surveys. Latitudinal analysis comparing the study area with other areas grouped the Michelin Ecological Reserve with areas in southeastern Brazil, which may be related to a lack of standardization in collecting methods. This study presented the highest richness in this region.