First record of the parasitoid wasp Lymeon sp. (Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) associated with spider eggs-sac of Araneus vincibilis (Araneae: Araneidae) in Northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Abstract Lymeon Förster, 1869 is a very large genus of the Cryptinae (Ichneumonidae) with predominantly Neotropical distribution where females attack small cocoons of various groups of insects and spider eggs-sac. In the present study, we report the first record the interaction between the parasitoid wasp Lymeon sp. (Ichneumonidae), with eggs-sac of spider Araneus vincibilis (Araneidae) in Northeastern Brazil. We observed that although the female of A. vincibilis cares for the eggs that were attacked by Lymeon sp, the wasp larva consumed about 80% of spider eggs, indicating that both maternal care and the physical barrier offered by the eggs-sac may not provide absolute defense against predators.

RESUMO

Resumo Lymeon Förster, 1869 é um grande gênero de Cryptinae (Ichneumonidae) com distribuição predominantemente neotropical, onde fêmeas atacam pequenos casulos de vários grupos de insetos e ovissacos de aranha. No presente estudo, relatamos o primeiro registro da interação entre a vespa parasitoide Lymeon sp. (Ichneumonidae), com o ovissaco da aranha Araneus vincibilis (Araneidae) no Nordeste do Brasil. Observamos que, embora a fêmea de A. vincibilis cuide dos ovos que foram atacados por Lymeon sp, a larva da vespa consumiu cerca de 80% dos ovos da aranha, indicando que tanto o cuidado maternal quanto a barreira física oferecida pelo ovissaco não podem fornecer defesa absoluta contra predadores.