Nesting habits of Social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in forest fragments associated with anthropic areas in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Social wasp communities and nesting habits were evaluated in forest environments associated with areas of human disturbance from March to September 2015. Three hundred forty-seven (347) colonies belonging to eighteen (18) species distributed in six genera were recorded. The species with the highest number of colonies were Mischocyttarus cassununga (R. Von Ilhering, 1903) (194 colonies), Mischocyttarus cerberus Richards, 1940 (50 colonies) and Polybia paulista (H. von Ihering, 1896) (23 colonies). Other species colony numbers ranged from one to eighteen.