Social wasps (Hymenoptera, Polistinae) from the Brazilian savanna

Abstract

The present study was developed aiming to evaluate the richness and biogeography of social wasp species in the Brazilian savanna, Cerrado. In order to do so, we gathered data from specialized literature and field samplings performed at Sempre-Vivas National Park, northeastern Minas Gerais state. 18 genera and 137 species were recorded, with 4 endemic species of the Mischocytiarus genus. The results showed that Cerrado houses 40% of Brazilian Polistinae fauna and that Sempre-Vivas National Park is responsible for around 29% of this value, which makes it an important refuge for conservation of social wasps from Cerrado, as well as Mato Grosso state, due to its large number of restricted occurrence and endemic species. Nonetheless, there are Brazilian states and conservation units still lacking information for the taxon, making a bigger sampling effort in the Cerrado biome necessary, as it has been rapidly deteriorating due to human action.

Keywords

• vespidae
• cerrado
• species inventories
• insects ecology