Management of Social Wasp Colonies in Eucalyptus Plantations (Hymenoptera:Vespidae)

Polistes paper wasps have shown potential for the biological control of agricultural plagues. Twenty post-emergent colonies of P. versicolor were transferred from human constructions to artificial shelters installed on a eucalyptus plantation. We obtained 85% success in colony transference, as determined by the permanence of individuals in the colony after the colony transference. Transferred colonies stayed active at the plantation for 64.05 ± 38.43 (8-123) days. We demonstrated that post-emergent colonies of P. versicolor can be easily transferred to areas where they can act as biological control agents

Temporal activity patterns and foraging behavior by social wasps (Hymenoptera, Polistinae) on fruits of Mangifera indica L.(Anacardiaceae)

This research was done in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil on february 2012, with objective was to determine which species of social wasps visiting mango fruits, their behaviors displayed by them while foraging and verify which the species of wasps visitors offer risk of accidents to farmers. The studied area was monitored during February 2012, from 8:00 to 17:00. in a 144 hour effort, and the data collected included the time of activity, diversity, aggressiveness and the general behavior of social wasps around the fruits. There were registered a total of 175 individuals of 12 different species, healthy fruits were damaged during the day, and we registered the abundance and richness peaks throughout the day. This study indicated the needs for special care during the harvest, as aggressive wasps are indeed present and the abundant, resulting in a possible increase of the risk for the workers

Opportunistic predation of a colony of Polybia platycephala (Richards) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) by Labidus praedator (Smith) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Social wasps have developed several defense mechanisms, especially against ants. Predator attacks are the main threat to their nests. The strategy adopted by the wasps, when attacked by ants, is to abandon the nest, thus preserving the adult population for future nesting. The present study reports in detail the predation of a colony of Polybia platycephala by Labidus praedator

Previously unreported nesting associations of Yellow-Olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) (Aves: Tyrannidae) with social wasps and bees

Previously unreported nesting associations of Yellow-Olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) (Aves: Tyrannidae) with social wasps and bee

Studies of social wasp diversity in Brazil: Over 30 years of research, advancements and priorities

The first records of social wasps in Brazil were made during expeditions that focused on the taxonomy and distribution of the species in the country. From the 70s there was a change in the essence of publications on the diversity of social wasps, which began to be directed to a specific place, which over the years have incorporated the use of sampling methodologies and analysis of results through ecological indexes. Since then, the neotropical social wasps have gained more prominence because of the recognition that act decisively in the trophic balance of ecosystems, thus increasing interest in research on these insects. So, our aim was to conduct a detailed analysis of published studies diversity of social wasps in Brazil over the past 33 years, aimed at increasing knowledge about the history of these works. For the literature review criteria were adopted: keywords with the matter and publications indexed in databases within the defined period. We found 78 publications, with the majority (70.52%) in scientific journals. From the year 2005, there was a regularly featured in publications with the years 2010, 2012 and 2014 as the most productive and a concentration of studies in BA, MG and SP states. Were used 11 collection methods, however there no a pattern of time or collection methodology, highlighting the Search-Active methods and Attractive Trap. The contribution of this analysis is to extend the current status of knowledge of social wasps with research as well as guide and encourage future studies to places unexplored

Resource Storage in the Neotropical Social Wasp Mischocyttarus socialis (Saussure, 1854) (Vespidae: Polistini)

Like other Hymenoptera, the social wasps can store liquid and solid resources inside the cells of their nests as reserve for periods of foof shortage. This study describes the occurrence of honey storage in colonies of the neotropical independently-founding wasp Mischocyttarus socialis. During August 2016, in the dry season, 15 colonies in the post-emergence phase were recorded at the botanical garden of Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora in southwestern of Brazil. Five of the colonies showed honey stored inside empty and immature (eggs) cells. The presence of these two patterns for this species suggests that the storage behavior can be a short-term strategy to feed larvae as soon as they emerge and also a long-term storage to complement population diet during food shortages

Foraging behavior of fire ant Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Felis catus Linnaeus (Carnivora, Felidae) carcass

Solenopsis saevissima fire ants were found foraging in a Felis catus carcass over tissues an secretions present in holes and mucosa. The ants built a dirt-made physical structure around the carcass, which prevented necrophagous flies from laying eggs in the body. These observations are relevant to increasing knowledge on the role of this ant genus in the decaying process of other animal corpses, including humans.

Variation in nesting behavior of the arboreal ant Camponotus sericeiventris (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

This is the first record of nesting in the soil by the ant Camponotus sericeiventris (Guérin-Méneville, 1838), which has arboreal habit. The study was conducted in southeastern Brazil, in an ant colony located in a subterranean site. This study describes, for the first time, the ability of this arboreal species to vary its nesting site by the occupation of an unusual place in an urban environment; and this study demonstrates that this species is an interesting model for studies in urban environments

Uso do pulverizador fumacê no controle de formigas de fogo em área urbana / Use of the smoke sprayer in the control of fire ant in urban area

Formigas do SolenopsisOs gêneros são considerados uma das principais pragas do meio urbano, onde causam acidentes com humanos e animais devido às suas picadas. Por serem invasivas na maioria dos ambientes, essas formigas são difíceis de controlar. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever uma metodologia de controle utilizando spray de fumaça e avaliar sua eficácia em campo nas colônias de formigas de fogo. O estudo foi realizado em um condomínio no município de Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil, no período de julho de 2016 a outubro de 2018. O equipamento utilizado para o controle de formigas foi adaptado do “Pulverizador tipo Fumaça”, que, por meio de mangueira injetou o produto nas colônias. Após o controle, foi realizado monitoramento em toda a área, a fim de registrar a situação das colônias tratadas (ativas ou inativas). O pulverizador eliminou 45% das colônias de formigas de fogo tratadas. O comprimento e a largura dos ninhos ativos foram significativamente maiores na estação seca (t = 2,41, p = 0,01; t = 3,75, p = 0,002, respectivamente) do que na estação chuvosa. Nossos resultados têm se mostrado promissores no controle das formigas lava-pés em área urbana e, portanto, sugerimos que para aumentar a eficácia dessa metodologia, o controle deve ser feito de forma contínua na área e em intervalos de tempo menores.

Estudo do enriquecimento ambiental em saguis (Collithrix penicillota) cativos

-Primatas não humanos são particularmente usados em certas áreas da pesquisa biomédica, pois são filogeneticamente muito próximos aos humanos. Contudo, o uso destes primatas implica numa série de questões éticas, incluindo as condições de seu cativeiro e os potenciais fatores da experimentação que podem acarretar dor, injúrias e estresse, interferindo diretamente no bem-estar do indivíduo. O presente trabalho buscou avaliar as respostas comportamentais frente a quatro técnicas de enriquecimento ambiental em sagüis Callithrix penicillata cativos relacionando-as à medições dos níveis de cortisol presentes nas fezes, visando melhorar o bem-estar. Além disso, buscou-se também verificar se havia diferença comportamental entre machos e fêmeas em cada enriquecimento. As observações foram realizadas em uma colônia de 10 fêmeas e 8 machos de C. penicillata mantidos no Centro de Biologia da Reprodução da UFJF. Foram realizados quatro tipos de enriquecimento alimentar associados a observações comportamentais antes, durante e depois da aplicação da técnica e à coleta de cortisol fecal desses animais em cada etapa. O comportamento de alimentação da dieta usualmente oferecida foi o que mais sofreu alteração, diminuindo durante a aplicação do enriquecimento. Tal fato mostra a preferência dos animais pelos alimentos oferecidos como novidade. A partir de nossa observação podemos confirmar que machos e fêmeas apresentam modos diferentes de obter alimento, provavelmente porque eles estão envolvidos diferentemente em aspectos fisiológicos e comportamentais na gestação e no cuidado parental. O enriquecimento induziu também, principalmente nas fêmeas, a apresentação de comportamentos naturais no cativeiro. Podemos inferir que a técnica de enriquecimento ambiental bem monitorada aliada a medições comportamentais e fisiológicas é uma boa ferramenta na promoção do bem-estar de animais de cativeiro. É importante desenvolver melhores métodos quantitativos para mensurar o bem-estar dos animais. Com a franca expansão da pesquisa farmacêutica utilizando-se de primatas como cobaias, faz-se necessária a aplicação destas técnicas de promoção do bem-estar garantindo a fidelidade dos resultados. Já que animais com o bem-estar comprometido apresentam alterações fisiológicas que podem alterar o resultado destas pesquisas