Morphological and physiological variation between queens and workers of Protonectarina sylveirae (de Saussure) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modelagem matemática aplicada ao controle biológico de Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) por Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmed (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) em Citrus

O modelo matemático apresentado tem como objetivos: (1) simular as dinâmicas populacionais de um sistema hospedeiro parasitóide de três níveis tróficos composto pelas populações de mosca-do-mediterrâneo Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), vespa braconídea parasitóide Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed) e frutos cítricos; (2) auxiliar no melhor entendimento dos principais fatores biológicos e ecológicos que regem as interações populacionais e (3) colaborar com programas mais eficientes de controle biológico para o sistema em questão. A metodologia empregada baseou-se na formulação de sistemas de equações de diferenças que descrevessem os processos de interação do sistema trófico. Posteriormente, foram elaboradas resoluções numéricas desses sistemas de equações e sua representação gráfica, utilizando-se o programa computacional Matlab, versão 6.1. Os dados biológicos e ecológicos necessários para a formulação das equações matemáticas foram fornecidos por especialistas em controle de C. capitata e retirados da literatura referente ao controle biológico das moscas-das-frutas em plantações de citros no Brasil, principalmente através da utilização de vespas parasitóides, como D. longicaudata. Os resultados obtidos nas simulações sugerem que o modelo proposto descreve adequadamente o sistema ecológico em questão e permite entender melhor suas principais características biológicas e ecológicas. em conseqüência pode auxiliar na escolha do modo e momento para liberação da vespa parasitóide para o controle mais efetivo de C. capitata.

An adaptive view of caste differentiation in the neotropical wasp Polybia (Trichothorax) sericea Olivier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ação de Polistes (Aphanilopterus) simillimus Zikán (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) no controle de Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

The corn is a plantation attacked by a lot of pests, mainly by Caterpillar Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), producing serious damages in the plants, occasioning unproductiveness. Thus, the goal of this research was to verify the predation of Polistes simillimus (Zikán, 1951) wasps on this pest of a corn plantation using the wasps colonies as a efficient form of this pest management. The present research was developed in a area in the Piracicaba county, São Paulo (22º43'S, 47º38'W), during the period of november/1995-march/1996, introducing 20 P. simillimus colonies in artificial wood shelters around of 5 plots of com, to accompany the foraging activity of the wasps and the development of the wasps colonies. Spodoptera frugiperda (23,07%) was the main prey captured by the wasps and the average rate of capture was 1,54 preys/h. These data gave an estimation of reduction in the occurrence of S. frugiperda (77,16%), due mainly to the wasps action.

Parasitismo natural de ovos de Alabama argillacea Hüb. e Heliothis virescens Fab. (Lep.: Noctuidae) por Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae) em algodoeiros no Mato Grosso do Sul

Os experimentos foram conduzidos em culturas comerciais de algodoeiros na região de Dourados no Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, durante a safra 1996/97. Observaram-se os seguintes aspectos do parasitismo natural em ovos de Alabama argillacea Hübner e Heliothis virescens Fabricius por Trichogramma pretiosum Riley: índice de parasitismo, razão sexual e número de adultos emergidos por ovo. Realizou-se coleta semanal de ovos dos lepidópteros e sua incubação em laboratório. Aos 31 dias após a emergência das plantas (DAE), não se observou parasitismo nos ovos de A. argillacea. Porém, a partir de 58 dias (DAE), acima de 60% dos ovos estavam parasitados por T. pretiosum, atingindo em algumas avaliações quase 100%. Apesar da baixa ocorrência de ovos de H. virescens, esses também apresentaram elevado índice de parasitismo por T. pretiosum. O número de fêmeas emergidas dos ovos parasitados geralmente foi maior do que o de machos. Fêmeas representaram em torno de 60% do total de adultos emergidos na maioria das coletas efetuadas. O número de adultos emergidos por ovo de A. argillacea e H. virescens foi ao redor de dois. Na região de Dourados, portanto, o parasitismo natural em ovos de A. argillacea e H. virescens por T. pretiosum é elevado, mesmo com as freqüentes aplicações de inseticidas.

Identification of bradykinins in solitary wasp venoms

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

Sequencing wasp venom peptides by endopeptidase digestion and nested collision-induced dissociation/post-source decay methods

A method incorporating nested collision-induced dissociation/post-source decay (CID/PSD) combined with endopeptidase digestion is described as an approach to determine the sequence of N-terminally modified peptides. The information from immonium and related ions observed in the CID/PSD spectrum was used for the selection of a suitable endopeptidase for the digestion of peptides. Rapid and reliable assignment of peptide sequence was performed by the comparison of CID/PSD spectra of both intact and endopeptidese-digested peptide fragments, since the assignments of the observed fragment ions to either N- or C-terminal ions can thus be carried out unambiguously. This nested CID/PSD method was applied to the sequence determination of two peptides from the solitary wasps Anoplius samariensis and Batozonellus maculifrons (pompilid wasps), which could not be sequenced by the Edman method due to N-terminal modification. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

COMPARATIVE COLONY PRODUCTIVITY OF POLISTES-SIMILLIMUS AND POLISTES-VERSICOLOR (HYMENOPTERA, VESPIDAE) AND THE EVOLUTION OF PARAGYNY IN THE POLISTINAE

Over a 3-year period, all colony foundations of the social wasps Polistes versicolor and Polistes simillimus were registered, and the fate and growth of all colonies were followed. P. simillimus exhibited a greater number of colony-founding attempts, while P. versicolor had a larger number of adult colonies. P. simillimus had greater cell numbers and number of adults produced per colony. P. simillimus reutilized only a small percentage of brood cells for adult production for up to 2 generations, while P. versicolor reutilized a large percentage of brood cells for up to 3 generations. Consequently, cell production was higher in P. simillimus. Because of a high rate of adult production and extensive cell production, we suggest that P. simillimus may demonstrate paragynous social organization, and may demonstrate an intermediate form between polygynous and monogynous Vespidae. Paragynous associations may lead to lower predation pressures and a relative independence of adult production on time.

Winter aggregations, colony cycle, and seasonal phenotypic change in the paper wasp Polistes versicolor in subtropical Brazil

Social wasps from temperate zones have clear annual colony cycles, and the young queens hibernate during winter. In the subtropics, the only previously reported evidence for the existence of hibernation is the facultative winter aggregations of females during harsh climate conditions. As in temperate-zone species analyzed so far, we show in this study that in the paper wasp, Polistes versicolor, a subtropical species, body size increases as an unfavorable season approaches. Our morphological studies indicate that larger females come from winter aggregations-that is, they are new queens. Multivariate analyses indicate that size is the only variable analyzed that shows a relationship to the differences. Given the absence of a harsh climate, we suggest that the occurrence of winter aggregations in tropical P. versicolor functions to allow some females to wait for better environmental conditions to start a new nest, rather than all being obliged to start a new nest as soon as they emerge.

Duration of Protopolybia exigua exigua (de Saussure) nests and related aspects as influenced by phorid fly infestation (vespidae, polistinae, epiponini)

The main characteristics of 55 nests of Protopolybia exigua exigua were periodically evaluated in Ribeirão Preto, southeastern Brazil. Although the queens' life-span can eventually reach one year, nests barely thrive for six months because most of them are periodically invaded by the scavenger phorid fly, Megaselia aff. picta. Under heavy infestation the adult wasp population partially closes the nest entrance, migrates and constructs a new nest in the neighborhood. Afterwards the old-nest's entrance can be completely closed by the wasps which results in blocking the parasitoid flies inside. In the tropics, predation by ants is considered the main selective pressure which shaped most of the bionomic characteristics of Polistinae wasps. It is suggested that Megaselia can easily overcome the usual wasps defensive tactics just because they are so specialized against ants. Aerial raids, fast erratic-jerking movements, rapid and efficient oviposition behavior, etc. can eventually turn Megaselia into a very important enemy of some social wasps.

Use of Rubidium to Label Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasitoid of Greenbugs (Homoptera: Aphididae), for Dispersal Studies

A reliable method of labeling is needed to study dispersal of the braconid parasitoid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson), an important biological control of greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), on grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. The feasibility of using aqueous solutions of rubidium chloride (RbCl) applied as a foliar spray or soil drench to label greenbugs and L. testaceipes developing within greenbugs was studied. Laboratory and field studies were conducted to identify the minimal concentration of RbCl to assure labeling of greenbugs and wasps, persistence of Rb throughout the wasp's life span, mobility of Rb to unsprayed sorghum leaves, and feasibility of studying dispersal using a release-recapture technique with Rb-labeled wasps. Both greenbugs and wasps could be labeled using RbCl at concentrations of 2,500-10,000 ppm. Rubidium content in labeled wasps did not significantly vary during the first 7 d after emergence. Greenbugs feeding on unsprayed leaves were labeled up to 4 wk after leaves were sprayed. Rb-labeled wasps were found at the maximum trap distance from the release site (60 m) within 1 d after release.

Parasitism of Greenbugs (Homoptera: Aphididae) by Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Grain Sorghum: Implications for Augmentative Biological Control

Field cage studies were conducted to describe the relationship between the percentage of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) parasitism (as measured by aphid mummies) and densities of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum Rondani, on grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. In 1993 and 1994, a biotype E-susceptible grain sorghum hybrid was grown in field cages and L. testaceipes adults were released after each plant was infested with 20 biotype E greenbugs. The release rates were 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wasps per plant in 1993, and 0, 0.16, 0.33, and 0.5 wasps per plant in 1994. Greenbugs and mummies were counted 1-2 times a week on all leaves of 2-4 randomly selected plants per cage. A release rate of 0.33-0.5 wasps per plant infested with 20 greenbugs maximized the number of mummies produced and prevented the greenbugs from reaching an economic threshold of 1,000 greenbugs per plant. Peak numbers of mummies occurred ≈400-500 DD (10°C base) after the initial wasp release. Regression analyses showed that the greenbug population started decreasing when the percentage of parasitism (as measured by mummies) reached 20-30 %. Greenbugs in the absence of wasps significantly reduced yield in 1994, but not in 1993.

Social organization of the eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus styx (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

The present study was carried out under field conditions in Rio Claro, Southeastern Brazil. The following average life-spans of adults of Mischocyttarus cerberus styx were observed: queens 191.1 days, workers 14.0 days, and males 10.7 days. The short longevity of workers is attributed to the early foraging activity which was performed since the first week of adult age. The life table of the workers revealed high mortality rates during the first three weeks of life. Twenty-four behavioral categories were reported for these wasps and a comparative behavioral catalogue showed that the solitary foundresses (pre-emergence stage) are significantly more active than the queens (post-emergence stage) because they have to perform all the tasks for the nest maintenance. On the other hand, the queens were highly active even in the presence of the workers. The small number of individuals on the nest was the probable cause of the high activity of the queens in the post-emergence colonies. There was no clear division of tasks among workers according to their age (in weeks), so that most of the behavior categories were potentially performed by any worker of any age. Dead queens were replaced by their daughters.

Expanded food choice as a possible factor in the evolution of sociality of Vespidae (Hymenoptera)

A recent theory suggests that economic considerations are more important than genetic ones in the emergence and maintenance of social behavior. Evolution of social behavior in wasps, thus, could be based on the development of worker castes, which increase the efficiency of brood care and energy use of the colony. If so, social wasps should collect a larger range of prey, favoring polyethism, as social behavior should increase the adaptive value of social species among wasps by increasing the range of prey accessible. We explored the literature and showed that the Eumeninae, which are mostly solitary, draw prey from significantly fewer orders of arthropods than wasps in the subfamily Vespinae and Polistinae, which are mainly social, supporting the hypothesis that social behavior may have emerged as a more efficient way to feed and care for the young by opening a wider range of food sources, increasing the amount of food and quality of care provided to the young. Two alternative explanations of this data are also discussed.

Ultramorphology and histology of the ectal mandibular gland in Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The ectal mandibular gland (EMG) of wasps is homologous to the mandibular gland of ants and bees. This gland belongs to salivary system and its function stile unknown. The EMG of Polistes versicolor showed histological and ultramorphological features similar to that founded in ants and others wasps. This gland is constituted by a secretory region and a reservoir. The secretory region contains individual secretory cells that showed several nucleoli. The reservoir has a club shape and is connected to each mandible, by a duct that opens on its external side, which there are cuticular projections. The EMG of males is smaller than those of females. Our results suggested that the EMG secrete volatiles compounds that are liberated when the mandibles still open.