Social wasps (vespidae: Polistinae) from an Amazon rainforest fragment: Ducke Reserve

Abstract

Social wasps are common elements in Neotropics, although even elementary data about this taxon in the Amazon region is partially unknown. Therefore the purpose of this work was to increase the knowledge of social wasp fauna at the Ducke Reserve, Amazonas. One hundred and three species belonging to nineteen genera were recorded. The richest genera were Polybia (28 species), Agelaia (12) and Mischocyttarus (12). Seventy species were collected in active search, 42 species using Malaise trap, 25 in suspended trap, 20 in attractive trap and nine in light trap. Ducke Reserve has one of the highest number of Polistinae wasps in reserves or parks in the Neotropic region.