Odonata community in transition areas between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes in south-central Minas Gerais, Brazil

Faunal inventories are essential for biota management and conservation, especially in areas with potential for the creation of conservation units. Inventories of insect taxa such as dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), which perform several environmental services in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, are of great importance. In view of the above, this study aimed to update and expand the list of Odonata species in the Barroso region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This study was carried out in three areas of forest fragments in Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes in October 2020, December 2020, January 2021, and March 2021. The sampling effort was 8 hours per day during 20 days, totaling 140 sampling hours. A total of 43 Odonata species were recorded, which increased the richness of the study area from 57 to 76 species. The studied areas harbor rare and endangered species. However, since the last sampling in 2009, there has been a significant reduction in diversity in the Atlantic Forest fragment. In view of the changes that forest fragments are undergoing, we underscore the need to create a conservation unit, especially in Baú Forest.(AU)

Odonata (Insecta) community in the Environmental Protection Area of the Machado River hydrographic basin, southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Only 8% of the approximately 120 conservation units in Minas Gerais State collect information on the order Odonata, which motivated this study. We aimed to survey communities of this insect group in the Environmental Protection Area of the Machado River hydrographic basin, southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. For this purpose, 12 areas were sampled by active searching from September 2018 to March 2019. Representatives of 71 Odonata species belonging to 8 families were collected. Seven species were found exclusively in this conservation unit, and two species were newly recorded for the state, namely Erythrodiplax chromoptera (Borror, 1942) and Micrathyria venezuelae De Marmels, 1989. This study surveyed the fifth richest odonatofauna in Minas Gerais State, underscoring the importance of the studied area for conservation of Odonata communities and necessitating actions for decreasing environmental impacts on this biological patrimony.(AU)

Conservation Units as a protection tool for social wasps in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Abstract Conservation Units are an important tool for the Brazilian biota protection. However, various taxa, including the social wasps, are undersampled or are unknown in these areas. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the social wasp richness and distribution in the Conservation Units in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. The social wasps were sampled between 2015 and 2019 in the Ritápolis National Forest (FLONA Ritápolis), in the Alto-Montana Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN Alto-Montana), in the Rio Machado Basin State Environmental Protection Area (APA Rio Machado) and in the Serra de São José Environmental Protection Area (APA Serra de São José), using two different sampling methodologies. Fourteen species were sampled for FLONA Ritápolis, 10 for RPPN Alto-Montana, 35 for APA Rio Machado and 19 for APA Serra de São José. Ninety-six social wasp species of the known richness in Minas Gerais were sampled in 14 Conservation Units, representing 90% of the fauna of the state. Thirty-four species are exclusive to these areas, with emphasis on the Rio Doce State Park, the Serra do Papagaio State Park, the Pandeiros River Wildlife Regufe and the APA Rio Machado. Most of the Conservation Units sampled are in the Atlantic Forest areas, but further efforts are needed in this biome, because of its accelerated destruction. There is still an urgent need for more studies in the Cerrado and Caatinga areas in the state, especially in Conservation Units.

Conservation Units as a protection tool for social wasps in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Conservation Units are an important tool for the Brazilian biota protection. However, various taxa, including the social wasps, are undersampled or are unknown in these areas. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the social wasp richness and distribution in the Conservation Units in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. The social wasps were sampled between 2015 and 2019 in the Ritápolis National Forest (FLONA Ritápolis), in the Alto-Montana Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN Alto-Montana), in the Rio Machado Basin State Environmental Protection Area (APA Rio Machado) and in the Serra de São José Environmental Protection Area (APA Serra de São José), using two different sampling methodologies. Fourteen species were sampled for FLONA Ritápolis, 10 for RPPN Alto-Montana, 35 for APA Rio Machado and 19 for APA Serra de São José. Ninety-six social wasp species of the known richness in Minas Gerais were sampled in 14 Conservation Units, representing 90% of the fauna of the state. Thirty-four species are exclusive to these areas, with emphasis on the Rio Doce State Park, the Serra do Papagaio State Park, the Pandeiros River Wildlife Regufe and the APA Rio Machado. Most of the Conservation Units sampled are in the Atlantic Forest areas, but further efforts are needed in this biome, because of its accelerated destruction. There is still an urgent need for more studies in the Cerrado and Caatinga areas in the state, especially in Conservation Units.(AU)

Conservation Units as a protection tool for social wasps in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Abstract Conservation Units are an important tool for the Brazilian biota protection. However, various taxa, including the social wasps, are undersampled or are unknown in these areas. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the social wasp richness and distribution in the Conservation Units in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. The social wasps were sampled between 2015 and 2019 in the Ritápolis National Forest (FLONA Ritápolis), in the Alto-Montana Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN Alto-Montana), in the Rio Machado Basin State Environmental Protection Area (APA Rio Machado) and in the Serra de São José Environmental Protection Area (APA Serra de São José), using two different sampling methodologies. Fourteen species were sampled for FLONA Ritápolis, 10 for RPPN Alto-Montana, 35 for APA Rio Machado and 19 for APA Serra de São José. Ninety-six social wasp species of the known richness in Minas Gerais were sampled in 14 Conservation Units, representing 90% of the fauna of the state. Thirty-four species are exclusive to these areas, with emphasis on the Rio Doce State Park, the Serra do Papagaio State Park, the Pandeiros River Wildlife Regufe and the APA Rio Machado. Most of the Conservation Units sampled are in the Atlantic Forest areas, but further efforts are needed in this biome, because of its accelerated destruction. There is still an urgent need for more studies in the Cerrado and Caatinga areas in the state, especially in Conservation Units.

Semideciduous seasonal forest opiliofauna (Arachnida, Opiliones), State of Paraná, Brazil

Harvestmen are arachnids that play an important role in organic matter breakdown. However, there are many ecosystems in Brazil, including Conservation Units, which lack information about these organisms or are sub-sampled. Even in areas of Atlantic forest, a biome that hosts the greatest diversity and endemic rates of these arthropods in the world. In this perspective, the purpose of this study was to survey the harvestmen fauna in areas of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in the Ilha Grande National Park, Paraná, southern Brazil, from February to November 2019, totaling 15 days and 60 hours, on six islands in the Paraná River. A total of 170 specimens was collected, distributed in five genera, comprising two species and three morphotypes. The low species richness may reflect the isolation of populations imposed by the island effect, however the study expanded the geographic distribution of Parapachyloides uncinatus and Discocyrtus invalidus, for which until then there was no record of occurrence in the Paraná State.

Semideciduous seasonal forest opiliofauna (Arachnida, Opiliones), State of Paraná, Brazil

Harvestmen are arachnids that play an important role in organic matter breakdown. However, there are many ecosystems in Brazil, including Conservation Units, which lack information about these organisms or are sub-sampled. Even in areas of Atlantic forest, a biome that hosts the greatest diversity and endemic rates of these arthropods in the world. In this perspective, the purpose of this study was to survey the harvestmen fauna in areas of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in the Ilha Grande National Park, Paraná, southern Brazil, from February to November 2019, totaling 15 days and 60 hours, on six islands in the Paraná River. A total of 170 specimens was collected, distributed in five genera, comprising two species and three morphotypes. The low species richness may reflect the isolation of populations imposed by the island effect, however the study expanded the geographic distribution of Parapachyloides uncinatus and Discocyrtus invalidus, for which until then there was no record of occurrence in the Paraná State.(AU)

Influência de fragmentos florestais sobre a nidificação de vespas sociais (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) em cafeeiro / Influence of forest fragments on the nesting of social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in coffee plant

O desmatamento imposto por culturas agrícolas afeta negativamente as interações ecológicas protagonizadas por determinadas espécies, como as vespas sociais. Uma hipótese é que o tamanho dos fragmentos florestais e sua proximidade destas culturas podem influenciar na nidificação das vespas sociais na área de plantio. Objetivou-se, portanto, testar esta hipótese. O trabalho ocorreu em Inconfidentes e Ouro Fino, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O método utilizado foi a busca ativa, percorrendo os fragmentos de mata e áreas associadas por um período de 32 dias, distribuídos entre janeiro de 2014 e janeiro de 2016. Foram amostradas duas áreas de plantio de café (A1 com 25 hectares e A2 com cinco) associadas a fragmentos de tamanhos diferentes. Foram registradas 55 colônias de 20 espécies. Na cultura associada a um sistema ecológico mais diversificado (A1), as vespas sociais estabeleceram suas colônias na planta do café. Na cultura associada a fragmentos menores e sistema ecológico mais simplificado (A2), elas apresentaram dificuldade de nidificação no cafezal. Entretanto, mesmo o fragmento florestal menor associado à A2 mostrou-se relevante para a manutenção das vespas sociais, evidenciando a importância da manutenção de fragmentos florestais próximo às culturas.

Deforestation imposed by agricultural crops negatively affects ecological interactions carried out by certain species, such as social wasps. One hypothesis is that the size of the forest fragments and their proximity to these crops may influence the nesting of social wasps in the crop area. Therefore, the objective was to test this hypothesis. The study was made in Inconfidentes and Ouro Fino, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The method used was an active search, covering the forest fragments and associated areas for 32 days, distributed between January 2014 and January 2016. It was sampled two coffee plantation areas (A1 with 25 hectares and A2 with five hectares), both associated with forest fragments with different sizes. We recorded 55 colonies with 20 species. In the crop associated with a more diversified ecological system (A1), the social wasps were able to establish their colonies in the coffee plant. In the crop associated with smaller fragments and more simplified ecological system (A2), the social wasps presented difficulty on nesting on the coffee plant. Nevertheless, even the forest fragment associated with A2 being smaller, it was relevant for the maintenance of social wasps, which evidences the importance of the maintenance of forest fragments near the crops.

Influência de fragmentos florestais sobre a nidificação de vespas sociais (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) em cafeeiro / Influence of forest fragments on the nesting of social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in coffee plant

O desmatamento imposto por culturas agrícolas afeta negativamente as interações ecológicas protagonizadas por determinadas espécies, como as vespas sociais. Uma hipótese é que o tamanho dos fragmentos florestais e sua proximidade destas culturas podem influenciar na nidificação das vespas sociais na área de plantio. Objetivou-se, portanto, testar esta hipótese. O trabalho ocorreu em Inconfidentes e Ouro Fino, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O método utilizado foi a busca ativa, percorrendo os fragmentos de mata e áreas associadas por um período de 32 dias, distribuídos entre janeiro de 2014 e janeiro de 2016. Foram amostradas duas áreas de plantio de café (A1 com 25 hectares e A2 com cinco) associadas a fragmentos de tamanhos diferentes. Foram registradas 55 colônias de 20 espécies. Na cultura associada a um sistema ecológico mais diversificado (A1), as vespas sociais estabeleceram suas colônias na planta do café. Na cultura associada a fragmentos menores e sistema ecológico mais simplificado (A2), elas apresentaram dificuldade de nidificação no cafezal. Entretanto, mesmo o fragmento florestal menor associado à A2 mostrou-se relevante para a manutenção das vespas sociais, evidenciando a importância da manutenção de fragmentos florestais próximo às culturas.(AU)

Deforestation imposed by agricultural crops negatively affects ecological interactions carried out by certain species, such as social wasps. One hypothesis is that the size of the forest fragments and their proximity to these crops may influence the nesting of social wasps in the crop area. Therefore, the objective was to test this hypothesis. The study was made in Inconfidentes and Ouro Fino, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The method used was an active search, covering the forest fragments and associated areas for 32 days, distributed between January 2014 and January 2016. It was sampled two coffee plantation areas (A1 with 25 hectares and A2 with five hectares), both associated with forest fragments with different sizes. We recorded 55 colonies with 20 species. In the crop associated with a more diversified ecological system (A1), the social wasps were able to establish their colonies in the coffee plant. In the crop associated with smaller fragments and more simplified ecological system (A2), the social wasps presented difficulty on nesting on the coffee plant. Nevertheless, even the forest fragment associated with A2 being smaller, it was relevant for the maintenance of social wasps, which evidences the importance of the maintenance of forest fragments near the crops.(AU)

Nesting of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in a riparian forest of rio das Mortes in southeastern Brazil / Nidificação de vespas sociais (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) em floresta ripária do rio das Mortes no Sudeste do Brasil

A sobrevivência das espécies de vespas sociais depende do sucesso na fundação de novos ninhos. Essas espécies podem utilizar para nidificação de diferentes espécies vegetais com características específicas, com a arquitetura dos ninhos que variam em relação aos hábitos dessas espécies vegetais. A nidificação de vespas sociais em ambiente natural foi estudada no período de outubro de 2005 a setembro de 2007 em uma floresta ripária do rio das Mortes, município de Barroso, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil, com o objetivo de avaliar os diferentes tipos de substratos vegetais utilizados por vespas sociais para nidificação, e investigar se há relação entre o tipo de construção dos ninhos com os hábitos das espécies vegetais. Foram registradas 171 colônias de vespas sociais pertencentes a 29 espécies, que utilizaram como substrato de nidificação 78 espécies vegetais (76 Angiospermas e 2 Pteridófitas) de hábitos arbustivo, herbácea, arbóreo, epífita e liana. Espécies com ninhos fragmocítaros e giminódomos nidificaram, com maior incidência, em plantas arbóreas e a deciduidade das mesmas não afetou a nidificação. Sugere-se a preservação das áreas naturais de modo a garantir maior disponibilidade de locais de nidificação para as espécies de vespas sociais, assegurando maior eficiência nos serviços ambientais e no controle biológico de pragas na agricultura.(AU)

The survival of social wasp species depends on the success in founding new nests. Thesespecies can use plant species with different specific characteristics for nesting, with nest architecturevarying according to the habits of those plant species. The nesting of social wasps in natural environmentswas studied in the period from October 2005 to September 2007 in the rio das Mortes riparian forest,municipal district of Barroso, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the different typesof plant substrate used by social wasps for nesting, and to investigate whether there is a relationshipbetween nest construction type and the habits of plant species. A total of 171 colonies of social waspsbelonging to 29 species were recorded, which used 78 plant species as nesting substrate (76 Angiospermsand two Pteridophytes) of arbustive, herbaceous, arboreal, epiphyte and liana habits. Species withphragmocyttarus and gymnodomous nests were observed nesting, with higher incidence, in arboreal plantsand their deciduousness did not affect the nesting. The preservation of natural areas is suggested in order toguarantee a higher availability of nesting places for the social wasp species, ensuring their higher efficiencyin the environmental services and biological control of agricultural pests.(AU)