Social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Coffea arabica L. Rubiaceae) plantations in southern Minas Gerais state

Social wasps play an important role within communities, in natural and agricultural ecosystems alike, by pollinating and/or preying on other organisms, especially caterpillars, revealing its potential for biological control. The objective of this paper is to inventory the existing fauna of social wasps in coffee-growing areas in Inconfidentes and Ouro Fino, southern Minas Gerais; verify the attractiveness of four baits in addition to assessing the influence of a native forest fragment on the richness and abundance of species. 3,405 specimens of social wasps were collected, representing 8 genders and 19 species. A coffee plantation associated with a forest fragment in Inconfidentes recorded the highest specific richness (S=17), abundance (N=2,656) and dominance (D=0.4448). Genus Polybia was the most representative, with seven species (37%). Agelaia pallipes (51%) and Agelaia multipicta (15%) were the most abundant species. The rate of similarity between the areas was 65%, with 13 common species. Attractive traps are efficient to collect social wasp species, and the maintenance of areas of natural vegetation near the crops ensures greater abundance of species. However, there seems to be clear the influence of forest area on the richness, because several species of social wasps are euriecias.