Hymenoptera Fauna Research Articles

Hymenoptera fauna, with emphasis on Ichneumonidae from an area of Caatinga in Northeast Brazil

The objectives of this study were to carry out a survey of families of Hymenoptera, with emphasis on Ichneumonidae, in an area of Caatinga, and register the occurrence of new species, if any, for the biome. Samples were taken with Malaise traps between September and November 2008 in a native area of vegetation of Serra do Lima, municipality of Patu, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 7,562 hymenopterans, from 11 superfamilies and 31 families, were collected. The most abundant superfamilies were: Chalcidoidea (2,887 specimens / 38.33% of the total), Platygastroidea (1,572 / 20.87%) and Vespoidea (1,131 / 15.02%) which constituted more than 70% of the captured hymenopterans. A total of 160 specimens of Ichneumonidae from 17 subfamilies were sampled, of which four are new records for Rio Grande do Norte: (Lycorininae, Nesomesochorinae, Phygadeuontinae and Tryphoninae). Altogether, 26 genera were recognized, with 16 new records for the state. Cryptophion espinozai Gauld & Janzen (Campopleginae) and Labena marginata Szépligeti (Labeninae) were registered for the first time in Caatinga. The obtained data demonstrate a considerable diversity of the studied groups in this area and also affirms the necessity of additional studies to establish the richness of this fauna in a more extensive and conclusive way.

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE HYMENOPTEROFAUNA IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN ALGERIA

The study of the Hymenoptera fauna associated with the Fabaceae is carried out in different environments in the Northern and Western Algeria. Insect sampling was carried out at seven sites representing three regions with different ecosystems and bioclimatic stages, namely: Algiers, Boumerdes and Tissemssilt. The results obtained show a total of 1022 individuals captured representing 59 taxa, distributed in 46 genera and 18 families. Qualitatively, the Boumerdes region is the richest with 648 individuals; it is followed by that of Algiers then Tissemssilt with respectively 191 and 181. In most of the stations, the dominant family in terms of individuals is that of Apidae whose the rate exceeds 60%. The honey bee Apis mellifera intermissa has a remarkable relative abundance varying between 50% and 89%.

Parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) associated with flower-heads of Asteraceae in Iran

This study was conducted to collect and identify chalcidoid wasps associated with Asteraceae and their possible hosts in the northwest of Iran during 2013–2014. Fourteen species of parasitoid wasps were recovered from 19 species of Asteraceae. These parasitoids include five Eulophidae: Aprostocetus malagensis, Crataepus marbis, Hyssopus nigritulus, Pronotalia hungarica; two Eurytomidae: Eurytoma compressa, Eurytoma robusta; one Eupelmidae: Eupelmus vesicularis; one Ormyridae: Ormyrus orientalis; three Pteromalidae: Pteromalus albipennis, Pteromalus sp., Sphengigaster nigricornis; two Torymidae: Pseudotorymus leguminum, Microdontomerus annulata. Four species, Aprostocetus malagensis, Pronotalia hungarica, Pseudotorymus leguminum and Sphengigaster nigricornis, are new records for the Hymenoptera fauna of Iran. All host-plant associations were newly established to the science. General distribution of these parasitoids and their biological associations were discussed. A list of associated Chalcidoidea to Tephritidae in Iran was presented.

Hunting for Wasps In-between: the Use of the Winkler Extractor to Sample Leaf Litter Hymenoptera.

Soil ecosystems are considered biodiversity hotspots. Most of terrestrial organisms depend almost exclusively on soils at least during some part of their life cycle. Although there is an intensive effort to understand the dynamics involving communities of soil animals, most groups are unappreciated in faunal inventories, such as some parasitic Hymenoptera with soil or litter hosts (SLH Hymenoptera), which are considered one of the largest and most diverse groups of soil- or litter-dwelling animals. Contrasting with flight interception traps, techniques that sample soil and litter specimens normally present low costs and easy transportation, being easily replicated within a site. Among them, the Winkler extractor is a useful technique to sample cryptic species associated with leaf litter. The aim of the present work was to describe the SLH Hymenoptera fauna collected in a pool of samples, using a technique to sample leaf litter arthropods. In this work, we report a total of 600 specimens belonging to Hymenoptera (excluding ants), belonging to 15 families distributed within 24 subfamilies, in samples of leaf litter obtained using the Winkler extractor. We observed that this technique is promising for sampling SLH Hymenoptera and should be considered as a complement for inventories of the Hymenoptera fauna.

Hymenoptera from caves of Bakony Mountains, Hungary – an overlooked taxon in hypogean research

There are no known troglobiotic hymenopterans, although a few species regularly occur in caves, usually for an inactive phase of their life-cycles. During a recent faunistical survey of the invertebrate fauna of Bakony Mountains’ caves (Hungary) several Hymenoptera specimens were collected in hypogean environments. In this paper we report the results of the survey regarding Hymenoptera. Although the Hymenoptera material was small in numbers, they provided valuable faunistical data: very rare or rarely collected species were found, and 5 taxa are first reported from hypogean environment. Aclastus longicauda Horstmann (Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae) was found new to the Hungarian fauna, considerably extending the distributional area of this species that has been known only from Northern Europe so far. Our local results clearly indicate that, both at local and world-wide level, research focusing on the usually overlooked Hymenoptera fauna of caves will certainly provide valuable faunistical, distributional and biogeographical data.

Survey of the Hymenoptera Fauna in a "Caatinga" Area in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to carry out a survey of the fauna of the Hymenoptera families in an area of Caatinga in Mossoró, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The samplings were carried out with Malaise traps, active between 6th of February and 6th of March, 2007 and between 13th March and 14th April, 2008. A total of 5,057 Hymenoptera, belonging to 12 superfamilies and 36 families, were collected. The most abundant superfamilies were: Chalcidoidea (1,206 specimens/23.85% of the total), Vespoidea (886/17.52%), Ichneumonoidea (837/16.55%) and Platygastroidea (801/15.84%) and the most abundant families were: Platygastridae (801/15.84%), Braconidae (616/12.18%), Pteromalidae (583/11.53%), Figitidae (454/8.98%), Pompilidae (444/8.78%) and Formicidae (268/5.30%). The data obtained allow us to affirm that the Caatinga encompasses substantial family richness of Hymenoptera and that renewed effort is necessary to sample its fauna in a more extensive way.
 Levantamento da Fauna de Hymenoptera em uma Área de Caatinga do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Nordeste do Brasil
 
 Resumo. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar levantamento das famílias de himenópteros presentes em área de Caatinga em Mossoró, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. As amostragens foram realizadas com armadilhas Malaise, entre 6 de fevereiro e 6 de março de 2007 e 13 de março e 14 de abril de 2008. Foram coletados 5.057 himenópteros pertencentes a 12 superfamílias e 36 famílias. As superfamílias mais abundantes foram: Chalcidoidea (1.206 exemplares/23,85% do total), Vespoidea (886/17,52%), Ichneumonoidea (837/16,55%) e Platygastroidea (801/15,84%) e as famílias mais abundantes foram: Platygastridae (801/15,84%), Braconidae (616/12,18%), Pteromalidae (583/11,53%), Figitidae (454/8,98%), Pompilidae (444/8,78%) e Formicidae (268/5,30%). Os dados obtidos demonstram grande riqueza de famílias de himenópteros na Caatinga e que estudos adicionais são necessários para estabelecer a riqueza desta fauna de forma mais extensiva.

Understanding sampling and taxonomic biases recorded by citizen scientists

Projects involving citizen scientists have greatly increased over the last decade and understanding errors associated with such projects has been identified as an important step. NatureWatch NZ is a biodiversity recording system accessible to members of the public. The “NZ wasps, ants, bees and parasitoids (Hymenoptera) project” was initiated within NatureWatch NZ in December 2012, and comparisons were analysed between these records and the known Hymenoptera fauna of the New Zealand region. Over the course of 1 year 25 members contributed 360 records from 186 taxa, including the discovery of several introduced species new to New Zealand. There was a strong geographical bias to the records, with the majority being based around the major cities. Aculeates (stinging wasps) were significantly over-represented in the NatureWatch records. Only half (55 %) of taxa were identified to species level, with a further 28 % at genus level, and 17 % identified above genus level (family, order). Furthermore, the majority (65 %) of taxa were recorded only once, and only a few taxa were recorded >5 times (top records were “Ichneumonidae”, “Hymenoptera”, Anthidium manicatum, and Apis mellifera). It is probable that these same biases also exist for many other taxonomic groups in projects operated by citizen scientists lacking set protocols. Caution should be exercised on the subsequent use, compilation, and analysis of citizen science, especially without prior examination of records and potential biases.

Checklist of british and irish hymenoptera - introduction.

The last complete checklist of the British and Irish Hymenoptera was that of Fitton et al. (1978). Much has changed in the intervening 36 years, including many changes to the higher classification of Hymenoptera and, of course, the discovery of many additional species. In producing this checklist we (the authors of the various chapters) have tried to provide a useful entry to the literature dealing with the identification and classification of the species involved, particularly for the less familiar parasitoid groups. The checklist also begins the process of summarising data on species' distribution on a country-level basis. I hope that this will serve to stimulate increased interest in this relatively neglected part of the British and Irish fauna. This volume serves as a standard reference point for the British and Irish Hymenoptera fauna, and, hopefully, provides a backbone to recording efforts and the underlying taxonomy. Having an endpoint to this project has stimulated much research in to our fauna, including the critical examination of museum collections, and thus pushed some checklist sections to a state they might not otherwise have reached. Of course, a checklist is never finished. The next incarnation will be digital, and the checklist is already in the process of migrating to a Scratchpad (Hymenoptera of the British Isles), where updates will be maintained as and when changes occur. Criteria for inclusion Additions to the British and Irish list since Fitton et al. (1978) are referenced (with a note 'added by...'). Species have been included that have not previously been formally published as being British or Irish but which are represented by reliably identified specimens in collections. For these species, collection depositories are listed so that the specimens can be traced. Known introductions, occasional or otherwise, including those species that are only able to sustain populations indoors, are also included, but noted as introduced. However, introduced or adventive species are not included in the counts of valid British and Irish species (Table ​(Table11). Table 1. Classification of Hymenoptera adopted in this checklist, with numbers of confirmed British and Irish species in the 1978 and current checklists (not including known introductions that have failed to establish in the wild). Note that the spelling of Trigonalidae and Trigonaloidea, as opposed to 'Trigonalyidae', follows Aguiar et al. (2013).

Contribution to the knowledge of Hymenoptera from the Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily), emphasizing Aculeata

This study provides the first contribution to the knowledge of the Order Hymenoptera, empha-sizing Aculeata, for the Aeolian archipelago, based on recent field investigations and examinationof several collections. A total of 169 species belonging to 19 families are recorded: Evaniidae (1species), Aulacidae (2 species), Gasteruptiidae (3 species), Ichneumonidae (1 species), Leucosp-idae (1 species), Chrysididae (8 species), Tiphiidae (3 species), Scoliidae (6 species), Mutillidae(13 species), Pompilidae (6 species), Vespidae (14 species), Sphecidae (6 species), Crabronidae(24 species), Formicidae (14 species), Colletidae (4 species), Andrenidae (8 species), Halictidae(29 species), Megachilidae (12 species), Apidae (14 species). Most part of species are newlyrecorded for the Aeolian Archipelago, the following being new records for Sicily: Dryudella es-terinae Pagliano, 2001, Nysson quadriguttatus Spinola, 1808, Miscophus aetoni Saunders, 1903,Miscophus lusitanicus Andrade, 1952, Cerceris circularis dacica Schletterer, 1887 (Crabronidae),and Lasioglossum (Dialictus) semilucens (Alfken, 1914) (Halictidae); Miscophus lusitanicus is also newly recorded for Italy. Combining the available data, a total of 218 species of Hymenopteraare currently known for the Aeolian Archipelago. The Hymenoptera fauna of these islands isdominated by widespread Mediterranean or West Palaearctic species, and most of them are alsofound in the Western Mediterranean Basin. The study briefly highlights some key points regardingbiogeographical and conservation of this group and its significant role in the management ofecosystems in the Aeolian Archipelago.

Diversidade de abelhas (Hymenoptera, Apidae) ao longo de um gradiente latitudinal na Mata Atlântica

A Mata Atlântica é um dos ambientes mais ricos e ameaçados do mundo, o que deveria ter estimulado em muito o estudo e a conservação do Bioma, mas a fauna de Hymenoptera permanece ainda relativamente pouco conhecida. Em especial, a fauna de abelhas da floresta ombrófila densa é pouco estudada em comparação à fauna das áreas abertas brasileiras. O projeto temático "Biodiversidade de Hymenoptera e Isoptera: riqueza e diversidade ao longo de um gradiente latitudinal na Mata Atlântica - a floresta úmida do leste do Brasil", integrante do Programa Biota-Fapesp, foi idealizado com o objetivo de catalogar térmitas, formigas e famílias selecionadas de vespas ao longo da Mata Atlântica, disponibilizando dados que permitam melhor embasar a conservação deste bioma. O protocolo de amostragem aplicada para a coleta de himenópteros (excluindo as formigas) empregou armadilhas Malaise, pratos-armadilha de cor amarela e esforço similar na varredura de vegetação ao longo de 17 localidades selecionadas, representando um gradiente de quase 20° de latitude na Mata Atlântica, dos Estados da Paraíba até Santa Catarina. Este protocolo foi definido para otimizar a coleta de vespas, sendo as abelhas um produto secundário da amostragem (levantamentos de abelhas em geral utilizam captura em flores ao longo das estações do ano). No entanto, devido à escala regional do projeto e ao grande esforço de amostragem, uma expressiva quantidade de abelhas foi coletada durante o projeto, incluindo novos registros de abelhas para a Mata Atlântica. Foi amostrado um total de 797 espécimes distribuídos em 105 espécies de abelhas; o grupo de abelhas mais rico e abundante foi Meliponina. Uma análise de correspondência "destendenciada" ('detrended correspondence analysis') aplicada à uma matriz de presença ou ausência de Meliponina revela a relativamente fraca influência do gradiente latitudinal na composição das assembléias de abelhas de Mata Atlântica. Uma listagem das espécies amostradas por localidade, com suas freqüências relativas, é apresentada e discutida.

Parasitic Hymenoptera Fauna on Agromyzidae (Diptera) Colonizing Weeds in Ecological Compensation Areas in Northern Italian Agroecosystems

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) associated with agromyzid leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) were studied in three rural farms located in northern Italy. The parasitoids were reared from mined foliage of weeds growing in field margins. We reared 998 Hymenoptera specimens, representing five families, 23 genera, and 53 species, from leafminers infesting weeds. Eulophidae was the most abundant family (67.64%), followed by Braconidae (28.86%), Eucoilinae (1.40%), Tetracampidae (1.40%), and Pteromalidae (0.7%). Braconids was the most species rich family, accounting for 28 species; eulophids were represented by 19 species, pteromalids by four species, and eucoilins and tetracampids by one species each. The dominant parasitoid was the eulophid Pediobius metallicus (Nees), representing 18.17% of the total, followed by Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (12.73%), and Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (10.82%). The most abundant braconid parasitoid was Dacnusa maculipes Thomson (9.62%). More than 80% of parasitoids were recovered from 10 plant species: Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli, Plantago lanceolata L., Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, Papaver rhoeas L., Picris echioides L., Lactuca serriola L., Myagrum perfoliatum L., Ranunculus velutinus Tenore, Arctium lappa L., and Medicago sativa L. The retention and the management of wild plants within field margins can be crucial tools to enhance the populations of biological control agents of agromyzids and to conserve rare parasitic wasp species.

Parasitic Hymenoptera Fauna on Agromyzidae (Diptera) Colonizing Weeds in Ecological Compensation Areas in Northern Italian Agroecosystems

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) associated with agromyzid leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) were studied in three rural farms located in northern Italy. The parasitoids were reared from mined foliage of weeds growing in field margins. We reared 998 Hymenoptera specimens, representing five families, 23 genera, and 53 species, from leafminers infesting weeds. Eulophidae was the most abundant family (67.64%), followed by Braconidae (28.86%), Eucoilinae (1.40%), Tetracampidae (1.40%), and Pteromalidae (0.7%). Braconids was the most species rich family, accounting for 28 species; eulophids were represented by 19 species, pteromalids by four species, and eucoilins and tetracampids by one species each. The dominant parasitoid was the eulophid Pediobius metallicus (Nees), representing 18.17% of the total, followed by Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (12.73%), and Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (10.82%). The most abundant braconid parasitoid was Dacnusa maculipes Thomson (9.62%). More than 80% of parasitoids were recovered from 10 plant species: Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli, Plantago lanceolata L., Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, Papaver rhoeas L., Picris echioides L., Lactuca serriola L., Myagrum perfoliatum L., Ranunculus velutinus Tenore, Arctium lappa L., and Medicago sativa L. The retention and the management of wild plants within field margins can be crucial tools to enhance the populations of biological control agents of agromyzids and to conserve rare parasitic wasp species.

Himenópteros associados a Solanum gilo raddi (Solanaceae)

The Hymenoptera fauna associated to Solanum gilo was studied. There were 21 species of Hymenoptera from eight families. It was observed Homalotylus flaminus (Dalman, 1820) (Encyrtidae) parasiting the adults of Cycloneda sanguinea Linnaeus, 1763 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) and Chalcididae parasiting caterpillars of Mechanitis pofymnia casabranca Haensch, 1905 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Ithomiinae, Sthomiinae). Vespidae were observed preying both M. pofymnia casabranca and Diabrotica speciosa Germar, 1824 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) adults. Halictidae, Andrenidae and Anthophoridae, were observed visiting flowers and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Apidae) attacking fruits and stem apices. The most abundant Hymenoptera were Formicidae; Cremalogaster sp. and Camponotus rufipes (Fabricus, 1775) were observed in protocooperation relation with Homoptera, the main cause of plant mortality was Solenopsis saevissima (Smith, 1855). Higher population density of Formicidae occurred on the final phase of cultivation, when there were high insolation and temperature and low pluvial precipitations.