High number of species of social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) corroborates the great biodiversity of western Amazon: A survey from rondônia, Brazil

Abstract

A survey of social wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae), common insects of Neotropical fauna, which perform a great variety of ecosystemic services, was conducted for the first time in areas of the Amazon forest in Rondônia state. The state is part of the Western Amazon, a region harboring high biodiversity, which is under threat due to constant deforestation. Three areas were sampled, and the wasps were actively collected, and an attractive liquid was sprayed onto the vegetation to bait the wasps. Two thousand nine hundred and sixty-one wasps were sampled in all three areas, distributed in 72 species of 15 genera. Thirtynine species were recorded for the first time in the state and three others (Agelaia melanopyga Cooper, Brachygastra cooperi Andena and Carpenter and Polybia diguetana du Buysson) represents the first record for Brazil. Agelaia Lepeletier was the most abundant genus in all areas and the greatest species richness was found for Polybia Lepeletier. The highest number of species was recorded in Floresta Nacional do Jamari (51), followed by Estação Ecológica de Cuniã (46) and forest fragment of Universidade Federal de Rondônia (39). The latter also presented the highest number of different genera. The great diversity, mainly for Epiponini, which represented 64 of the 72 species, can be attributed to location of the areas and methodology.