Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, Jun 1, 1997
Abstract In the swarm founding wasp, Polybia scutellaris, the worker and the queen caste are morp... more Abstract In the swarm founding wasp, Polybia scutellaris, the worker and the queen caste are morphologically distinct. Only queens have activated ovaries and are inseminated. Queens are larger in 9 morphometric characters analysed. Caste differences in polistine wasps and in particular in the polygynous colonies of the neotropical Epiponini are discussed.
Journal of The New York Entomological Society, 1999
Five colonies of Chartergellus communis, a Neotropical swarm-founding social wasp, were analyzed ... more Five colonies of Chartergellus communis, a Neotropical swarm-founding social wasp, were analyzed in order to determine morphological differences between queens and workers. Although castes could be differentiated by color patterns, morphological differences were ...
Zethus is the largest genus in Eumeninae, with over 250 species. Currently, it is divided in four... more Zethus is the largest genus in Eumeninae, with over 250 species. Currently, it is divided in four subgenera: Z. (Zethus), Z. (Zethusculus), Z. (Zethoides) and Z. (Madecazethus). Z. (Zethoides), with 42 species, is subdivided in eight species groups, each considered a phylogenetic unit, that were created without any phylogenetic analysis. Eighteen species of Z. (Zethoides) corresponding to different groups were examined, altogether with terminals from distinct lineages of Zethus, Zethini and Eumenini, to perform a cladistics analysis to verify the proposed divisions. Zethus (Zethoides) and all of its species groups, except for the Z. biglumis group, were monophyletic. Zethus s.s. was paraphyletic in relation to Z. (Madecazethus), Z. (Zethoides) and Ctenochilus. Z. (Zethusculus) was also retrieved paraphyletic. Despite the subgeneric incongruences, the outgroups were too poorly represented to carry a taxonomic modification. Thus, the only alteration was the inclusion of the Z. clypearis group in the Z. biglumis group.
ABSTRACT AimThe aim of this study was to understand the biogeography of Brachygastra. As the spat... more ABSTRACT AimThe aim of this study was to understand the biogeography of Brachygastra. As the spatial component of evolution is of fundamental importance to understanding the processes shaping the evolution of taxa, the known geological history of the Neotropical region was used together with the current phylogeny and distribution of species to investigate questions concerning the biogeography of Brachygastra: the ancestral ranges of Brachygastra species; their areal relationships and their congruence with previously published hypotheses; the possible associated vicariance events and the influence of land bridges between North and South America, and the split between the Amazon and Atlantic forests.LocationNeotropical region, from Mexico to central Argentina and southern USA.Methods Statistical dispersal–vicariance analysis (S-DIVA) was used to reconstruct the possible ancestral ranges of Brachygastra species based on their phylogeny (divided into three groups, lecheguana, scuttelaris and smithii). A Brooks parsimony analysis (BPA) and component analysis were performed to reconstruct the areal relationships of these species within the Neotropics.ResultsS-DIVA suggested a widespread, South American ancestral region for Brachygastra. The ancestral B. azteca probably reached the Nearctic before a posterior vicariance event separated it from the species groups ((lecheguana (scutellaris + smithii))), that stayed in the Atlantic forest. The ancestral (scutellaris + smithii groups) possibly reached the Amazon by dispersal, and the subsequent vicariance event splitting the Atlantic forest and Amazon separated the groups into scutellaris in the Atlantic forest and smithii in the Amazon. BPA and component analyses suggested that the Nearctic was a sister area to other regions, the Andes and Mesoamerica was a sister area to the Neotropical regions and the Amazon was closely related to the Atlantic forest.Main conclusionsThe phylogeny and distribution of Brachygastra suggest the influence of a land bridge between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres affecting the cladogenesis of B. azteca and the importance of the formation of the two blocks of forests in South America to the cladogenesis of the main groups of Brachygastra. Future comparisons between the distribution patterns of other taxa should enable a more precise identification of the possible events and outcomes, adding robustness to the hypothesized areal relationships.
Although most bees feed on nectar and pollen, several exceptions have been reported. The stranges... more Although most bees feed on nectar and pollen, several exceptions have been reported. The strangest of all is the habit found in some neotropical stingless bees, which have completely replaced pollen-eating by eating animal protein from corpses. For more than 20 years, it was believed that carrion was the only protein source for these bees. We report that these bees feed not only off dead animals, but on the living brood of social wasps and possibly other similar sources. Using well developed prey location and foraging behaviors, necrophagous bees discover recently abandoned wasps' nests and, within a few hours, prey upon all immatures found there.
Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, Jun 1, 1997
Abstract In the swarm founding wasp, Polybia scutellaris, the worker and the queen caste are morp... more Abstract In the swarm founding wasp, Polybia scutellaris, the worker and the queen caste are morphologically distinct. Only queens have activated ovaries and are inseminated. Queens are larger in 9 morphometric characters analysed. Caste differences in polistine wasps and in particular in the polygynous colonies of the neotropical Epiponini are discussed.
Journal of The New York Entomological Society, 1999
Five colonies of Chartergellus communis, a Neotropical swarm-founding social wasp, were analyzed ... more Five colonies of Chartergellus communis, a Neotropical swarm-founding social wasp, were analyzed in order to determine morphological differences between queens and workers. Although castes could be differentiated by color patterns, morphological differences were ...
Zethus is the largest genus in Eumeninae, with over 250 species. Currently, it is divided in four... more Zethus is the largest genus in Eumeninae, with over 250 species. Currently, it is divided in four subgenera: Z. (Zethus), Z. (Zethusculus), Z. (Zethoides) and Z. (Madecazethus). Z. (Zethoides), with 42 species, is subdivided in eight species groups, each considered a phylogenetic unit, that were created without any phylogenetic analysis. Eighteen species of Z. (Zethoides) corresponding to different groups were examined, altogether with terminals from distinct lineages of Zethus, Zethini and Eumenini, to perform a cladistics analysis to verify the proposed divisions. Zethus (Zethoides) and all of its species groups, except for the Z. biglumis group, were monophyletic. Zethus s.s. was paraphyletic in relation to Z. (Madecazethus), Z. (Zethoides) and Ctenochilus. Z. (Zethusculus) was also retrieved paraphyletic. Despite the subgeneric incongruences, the outgroups were too poorly represented to carry a taxonomic modification. Thus, the only alteration was the inclusion of the Z. clypearis group in the Z. biglumis group.
ABSTRACT AimThe aim of this study was to understand the biogeography of Brachygastra. As the spat... more ABSTRACT AimThe aim of this study was to understand the biogeography of Brachygastra. As the spatial component of evolution is of fundamental importance to understanding the processes shaping the evolution of taxa, the known geological history of the Neotropical region was used together with the current phylogeny and distribution of species to investigate questions concerning the biogeography of Brachygastra: the ancestral ranges of Brachygastra species; their areal relationships and their congruence with previously published hypotheses; the possible associated vicariance events and the influence of land bridges between North and South America, and the split between the Amazon and Atlantic forests.LocationNeotropical region, from Mexico to central Argentina and southern USA.Methods Statistical dispersal–vicariance analysis (S-DIVA) was used to reconstruct the possible ancestral ranges of Brachygastra species based on their phylogeny (divided into three groups, lecheguana, scuttelaris and smithii). A Brooks parsimony analysis (BPA) and component analysis were performed to reconstruct the areal relationships of these species within the Neotropics.ResultsS-DIVA suggested a widespread, South American ancestral region for Brachygastra. The ancestral B. azteca probably reached the Nearctic before a posterior vicariance event separated it from the species groups ((lecheguana (scutellaris + smithii))), that stayed in the Atlantic forest. The ancestral (scutellaris + smithii groups) possibly reached the Amazon by dispersal, and the subsequent vicariance event splitting the Atlantic forest and Amazon separated the groups into scutellaris in the Atlantic forest and smithii in the Amazon. BPA and component analyses suggested that the Nearctic was a sister area to other regions, the Andes and Mesoamerica was a sister area to the Neotropical regions and the Amazon was closely related to the Atlantic forest.Main conclusionsThe phylogeny and distribution of Brachygastra suggest the influence of a land bridge between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres affecting the cladogenesis of B. azteca and the importance of the formation of the two blocks of forests in South America to the cladogenesis of the main groups of Brachygastra. Future comparisons between the distribution patterns of other taxa should enable a more precise identification of the possible events and outcomes, adding robustness to the hypothesized areal relationships.
Although most bees feed on nectar and pollen, several exceptions have been reported. The stranges... more Although most bees feed on nectar and pollen, several exceptions have been reported. The strangest of all is the habit found in some neotropical stingless bees, which have completely replaced pollen-eating by eating animal protein from corpses. For more than 20 years, it was believed that carrion was the only protein source for these bees. We report that these bees feed not only off dead animals, but on the living brood of social wasps and possibly other similar sources. Using well developed prey location and foraging behaviors, necrophagous bees discover recently abandoned wasps' nests and, within a few hours, prey upon all immatures found there.
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