Peptidome profiling of venom from the social wasp Polybia paulista

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

Exometaboloma do tegumento da vespa social Polybia paulista por análises GC-MS: bases moleculares do reconhecimento de tipos parentais

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

Proteômica como estratégia para estudos dos mecanismos de ativação de mastócitos de ratos causados pelo peptídeo Protopolybia MP-III

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

Dinâmica populacional e manejo de leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) em plantações de eucalipto

Pós-graduação em Ciência Florestal - FCA

Diferenças individuais no comportamento forrageiro de Polistes versicolor Olivier, 1872 (Vespidae, Polistinae)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Diversidade de vespas sociais (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) em diferentes fitofisionomias do Centro-Leste do Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phylogeographic analysis in populations of Protonectarina sylveirae (Saussure, 1854) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae)

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

Termofisiolofia da vespa Polybia (Trichothorax) ignobilis (Haliday, 1836) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini) durante a atividade de forrageamento

Many social wasps are known to use thermogenesis to warm up their flight muscles and are therefore able to forage under a broad range of ambient temperatures. However it is uncertain whether there exists a possible relation between ambient temperature and thermogenic capacity for tropical species, as we lack studies focusing on these species. Therefore, we examined the use of this mechanism in the neotropical Epiponini wasp Polybia ignobilis. More specifically, we used a thermographic camera to obtain data of the surface temperatures of three body regions (head, thorax and abdomen) of wasps during foraging activities (pre-flight, flight and post-flight) in cold [initial pe- riod of foraging activity: TAM : 15 − 20◦C] and warm [final period of foraging activity: TPM : 30 − 35◦C] conditions. Thorax temperature (Tth) was always higher than head (Th) and abdomen temperature (Tabd). In general, the lowest body temperatures were observed during the pre-flight period, while the highest values occurred upon the return of the wasps from the foraging flight. Except for the pre-flight period, Tth was always higher than Tabd, indicating that heat generated at the thorax was preferentially directed to the cephalic region. Therefore we confirmed the use of thermogenesis by a neotropical social wasp, although its magnitude was found modest compared to temperate species, which suggests a link between thermal environment and thermogenic capacity. We also showed that P. ignobilis modulates heat production as a function of ambient temperature (TA), maintaining a greater temperature difference (Tbody − TA) at cooler temperatures. Finally, we identified the cephalic region of wasps as an important route for the dissipation of the heat generated during flight

Phylogeographic analysis in populations of Protonectarina sylveirae (Saussure, 1854) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae)

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

Termofisiolofia da vespa Polybia (Trichothorax) ignobilis (Haliday, 1836) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini) durante a atividade de forrageamento

Many social wasps are known to use thermogenesis to warm up their flight muscles and are therefore able to forage under a broad range of ambient temperatures. However it is uncertain whether there exists a possible relation between ambient temperature and thermogenic capacity for tropical species, as we lack studies focusing on these species. Therefore, we examined the use of this mechanism in the neotropical Epiponini wasp Polybia ignobilis. More specifically, we used a thermographic camera to obtain data of the surface temperatures of three body regions (head, thorax and abdomen) of wasps during foraging activities (pre-flight, flight and post-flight) in cold [initial pe- riod of foraging activity: TAM : 15 − 20◦C] and warm [final period of foraging activity: TPM : 30 − 35◦C] conditions. Thorax temperature (Tth) was always higher than head (Th) and abdomen temperature (Tabd). In general, the lowest body temperatures were observed during the pre-flight period, while the highest values occurred upon the return of the wasps from the foraging flight. Except for the pre-flight period, Tth was always higher than Tabd, indicating that heat generated at the thorax was preferentially directed to the cephalic region. Therefore we confirmed the use of thermogenesis by a neotropical social wasp, although its magnitude was found modest compared to temperate species, which suggests a link between thermal environment and thermogenic capacity. We also showed that P. ignobilis modulates heat production as a function of ambient temperature (TA), maintaining a greater temperature difference (Tbody − TA) at cooler temperatures. Finally, we identified the cephalic region of wasps as an important route for the dissipation of the heat generated during flight

Isolation and characterisation of microsatellite loci in the wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga

Mischocyttarus cassununga, a primitively eusocial Brazilian wasp, commonly found in urban environments, is an interesting model for studies on the evolution of social behaviour in hymenopteran insects. In this study, we constructed a microsatellite-enriched genomic library and presented primers for 18 microsatellite loci. For the analysis, 20 unrelated females were screened and all loci obtained were polymorphic. PCR amplification revealed from 3 (Mcas5b) to 17 (Mcas53b) alleles per locus (). We detected the levels of observed (H (o)) and expected (H (e)) heterozygosities ranging from 0.150 to 0.950 and 0.261 to 0.920, respectively. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.238 to 0.915, averaging 0.680. All loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium was not detected after sequential Bonferroni correction (P > 0.05). These molecular markers will allow further studies on sociogenetic structure, extensive population genetic analysis and diversity of M. cassununga and other Mischocyttarini species.

The larval morphology and nest habits of Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) rogenhoferi Kohl 1884 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

The present study describes different preimaginal stages of Trypoxylon rogenhoferi examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and compares the results with observations on closely related species. Some notes on the nesting habits of this species, including their spider prey, nest parasites, and development time are provided. In short, T. rogenhoferi proved quite similar to the previous report on T. albitarse although SEM images are rarely presented in such descriptions. In fact the present study emphasized the importance of SEM images to describe fine morphological details that can be useful characters for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Images of some earlier development stages (first and second larval instar and egg) are presented for the first time, and compared with the few available data from other hymenopterans.

EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE IMMATURES OF POLYBIA PAULISTA (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

The immatures of Polybia paulista Ihering were described using light and scanning electron microscopy and the results are compared with previous descriptions within the same or related wasps. This study is based on 2 whole nests collected in the municipality of Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, in Brazil. We have detected the existence of 5 larval instars. The main morphological alterations over development occur in the relative size of structures, yet certain structures appear with subsequent instars and become more evident later in development: increasing density in the number of body spines and papillae; the appearance of body setae in fifth-instar larvae; opening of spiracles upon second-instar larvae; 2 body shapes in fifth-instar larvae; the appearance of a lateral tooth on the mandibles of fourth instar; presence of spines on the maxillae of fifth-instar larvae; altered shape of galea and palps upon third-instar larvae from a cluster of sensilla to a conical elevation; and the appearance of spines on postmentum upon fourth-instar larvae. This way, the present study presents a detailed description of the immatures of P. paulista, and we hope the presented information can be useful to morphological, taxonomic, and phylogenetic studies.

The preimaginal stages of the ensign wasp Evania appendigaster (Hymenoptera, Evaniidae), a cockroach egg predator

Evania appendigaster is a cosmopolitan wasp that deposits eggs in the oothecae of some species of cockroaches; its larvae then consume the cockroach eggs and embryos. It is a candidate for the biological control of cockroaches, but little is known about its basic biology. Here we describe the external morphology of all immature stages of E. appendigaster and compare them with the larvae of related species. The life cycle of E. appendigaster includes three larval instars, each with 13 body segments. Their mouthparts were generally reduced, except for the mandibles, which were always sclerotized and toothed, and were especially robust in second-instar larvae. Antennal and mouthpart sensilla were basiconic and difficult to observe. Larvae of E. appendigaster are similar in form to other described evaniid larvae, but quite different from the two available descriptions of larvae of gasteruptiid and aulacid wasps. Further descriptions of evaniid larvae will be useful in determining how widespread this morphology is within the family, and in understanding phylogenetic relationships within Hymenoptera.

Diversification in the use of resources by Idarnes species: bypassing functional constraints in the fig-fig wasp interaction

Mutualisms such as the figfig wasp mutualism are generally exploited by parasites. We demonstrate that amongst nonpollinating fig wasps (NPFWs) parasitic on Ficus citrifolia, a species of Idarnes galls flowers and another species feeds on galls induced by other wasps killing their larvae. The galling wasp inserts its ovipositor through the fig wall into the fig cavity. The ovipositor then follows a sinuous path and is introduced through the stigma and style of the flower. The egg is deposited between the integument and nucellus, in the exact location where the pollinating mutualistic wasp would have laid its egg. Gall induction is a complex process. In contrast, the path followed by the ovipositor of the other species is straightforward: attacking a larva within a developed gall poses different constraints. Shifts in feeding regime have occurred repeatedly in NPFWs. Monitoring traits associated with such repeated evolutionary shifts may help understand underlying functional constraints. (c) 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 106, 114122.