Diversidade de vespas polistinae (Hymenoptera, vespidae) associadas a fragmentos florestais em paisagem de várzea

Abstract

Social wasps are cosmopolitan insects, with all species belonging to the family Vespidae. The highest diversity within this family is concentrated in the Neotropical region. In Brazil, only the subfamily Polistinae is found, represented by three of its four tribes: Polistini, Mischocyttarini, and Epiponini. To date, 381 species have been recorded in the country, with just over 100 classified as endemic. These species play key ecological roles, including regulating insect populations within ecosystems and contributing indirectly to pollination. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of Polistinae social wasps in várzea forest fragments and to assess whether foraging location—inside or outside the fragments—explains differences in species diversity. To this end, both active sampling using entomological nets and passive sampling with baited traps containing passion fruit and orange juice were conducted across 30 forest fragments. In total, 795 wasps were collected, representing six genera and 16 species. Our findings indicate that species richness did not significantly differ between collection sites inside and outside the fragments. However, species composition was influenced by the successional stage of the fragment, which is associated with its level of vegetative development. Therefore, we conclude that differences in species composition in floodplain forests are primarily driven by the successional stage of the fragment rather than its size. This pattern is likely related to species-specific preferences for nesting substrates, flight capacity, and the availability of food resources.