Evaluation of different attractions in the collection of wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in the area of vegetable production

Abstract

Social wasps are important agents of biological control, they act in the predation of several
pests present in areas of vegetable production. The objective of this work was to evaluate
different attractions in the capture of these insects as well as to evaluate the wasp community
in these environments. The traps used were transparent pet bottles, and as attractive, honey,
molasses, passion fruit and sardines, arranged randomly with a minimum distance of ten meters
from one another. The number of social wasps collected was 515, totaling 18 species. The
most abundant species were Agelaia vicina (20,19%), Polybia cf. Scutellaris (18.06%), Polybia
ignobilis (14.56%) and Polybia platycephala sylvestris (11,65). The attractions of honey, passion
fruit and molasses were efficient in collecting wasps. The species Brachygastra lecheguana,
Polybia ignobilis and Polybia sericea, were registered as predatory wasps of insect pests
of horticulture.