Foraging Behavior of the Swarm-Founding Wasp, Polybia (Trichothorax) sericea (Hymenoptera, Vespidae): Prey Capture and Load Capacity

The main component of the protein diet of P. sericea was larvae of Lepidoptera (75.38%), with predominance of the following Families: Noctuidae (30.99%), Hesperiidae (19.01%); Pyralidae (19.01%) and Nymphalidae (11.98%). The average weight of the prey captured was 14.2 mg, a value equivalent to 24.7% of the average wasp weight. The average glucidic food load was 28.61 mg, corresponding to approximately half the wasp weight (49.64%). The weight of the load transported in the crop varied according to the food density, which, in turn, influenced the time spent in its collection (Pearson: n=64; r=0.64;p<0.05). Polybia sericea showed predatory interactions against Lepidopteran caterpillars, who are known to be agricultural pests. P. sericea has potential to be used in Integrated Pest Management.

Individual Specialization in the Hunting-wasp Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) agamemnon Richards (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

Renan B. Pitilin, Marcio S. Araujo, and Maria L.T. Buschini (2012) Individual specialization in the hunting-wasp Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) agamemnon Richards (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Zoological Studies 51(5): 655-662. Individuals of a population may differ with respect to resource use. This among-individual variation in resource utilization is called 'individual specialization' and may substantially impact the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of a population. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether females of 1 population of the hunting-wasp Trypoxylon agamemnon differed in their preferences for spider size and/or taxa. To observe the behavior of wasps, trap-nests were installed in an araucaria forest fragment in the Parque Municipal das Araucarias, Guarapuava (PR), southern Brazil. The indices within-individual component (WIC)/total niche width of a population (TNW) and average of values of the proportional similarity index (IS) were used to measure the degree of individual specialization. We found evidence of strong, significant individual specialization in T agamemnon in terms of both prey size (WIC/TNW = 0.43) and taxa (IS = 0.45). We hypothesized that individual specialization in this species resulted from cognitive tradeoffs that limit individuals to exploring a small subset of available resources. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/51.5/655.pdf

Foraging Behavior of the Swarm-founding Wasp Polybia (Trichothorax) sericea (Hymenoptera, Vespidae): Daily Resource Collection Activity and Flight Capacity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphological caste differences in the neotropical swarm-founding polistine wasp, Brachygastra lecheguana (Hymenoptera : Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini)

Morphological caste differences and ovary conditions were analyzed in colony of Brachygastra lecheguana. The results indicate the presence of individuals with ovary development but uninseminated (intermediates). In addition, these females were similar in morphology to workers, suggesting that, in this case, intermediates are ovary-developed workers. Queens were morphologically larger than workers and intermediates in some characters and smaller in others. Multivariate analysis showed that queens were highly distinct. These results indicate that castes are pre-imaginally determined in B. lecheguana.

More than one inseminated female in colonies of the independent-founding wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga von Ihering (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Regulation of Social Hierarchy Over Time in Colonies of the Primitive Eusocial Wasp Mischocyttarus (Monocyttarus) cassununga. Von Ihering, 1903 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Nest defense behavior against ant attacks in post-emergent colonies of wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Dominance and Subordination Interactions Among Nestmates in Pre and Post-Emergence Phases of the Basal Eusocial Wasp Mischocyttarus (Monogynoecus) montei (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caste Asymmetries in the Neotropical Swarm-Founding Wasp Polybia (Trychothorax) ignobilis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Colony defense behavior of the primitively eusocial wasp, Mischocyttarus cerberus is related to age

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

New Insight into the Mechanism of Action of Wasp Mastoparan Peptides: Lytic Activity and Clustering Observed with Giant Vesicles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Social Wasp Diversity (Vespidae, Polistinae) in a Forest Fragment in the Northeast of São Paulo State Sampled with Different Methodologies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphology of Richards' Gland in the Wasp Metapolybia docilis

Richards gland in the epiponine wasp Metapolybia docilis occurs at the anterior side of the 5(th) abdominal sternite, and is formed by approx. 360 secretory cells. The cells discharge their secretory products through accompanying duct cells into a reservoir that is formed by the invaginated intersegmental membrane between the 4(th) and 5(th) sternites. The ultrastructural characteristics of the secretory cells are indicative for the production of a non-proteinaceous secretion, which is in line with the trail substance that is used by these wasps during their swarm-founding.

MORPHOLOGICAL CASTE DIFFERENCES IN POLYBIA AEQUATORIALIS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE: POLISTINAE: EPIPONINI), A SOCIAL WASP of THE HIGHLANDS of COSTA RICA

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Castes in the Neotropical Social Wasp Leipomeles dorsata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): a Window for Workers Achieving a New Status in the Colony

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)