Velvet ants are a group of parasitic wasps that are well known for a suite of defensive adaptations including bright coloration and a formidable sting. While these adaptations are presumed to function in antipredator defense, observations between potential predators and this group are lacking. We conducted a series of experiments to determine the risk of velvet ants to a host of potential predators including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. Velvet ants from across the United States were tested with predator's representative of the velvet ants native range. All interactions between lizards, free-ranging birds, and a mole resulted in the velvet ants survival, and ultimate avoidance by the predator. Two shrews did injure a velvet ant, but this occurred only after multiple failed attacks. The only predator to successfully consume a velvet ant was a single American toad (Anaxyrus americanus). These results indicate that the suite of defenses possessed by velvet ants, including aposematic coloration, stridulations, a chemical alarm signal, a hard exoskeleton, and powerful sting are effective defenses against potential predators. Female velvet ants appear to be nearly impervious to predation by many species whose diet is heavily derived of invertebrate prey.

Biologies of eight chrysidid species were described. These wasps parasitized bees and wasps collected in trap nests set at several sites in two canyons near Logan, Utah. The completed nests were taken to the laboratory and the parasitized ones were kept for study of the development a l biology and behavior of both host and parasites. The larval stages of Chrysura smaragdicolor, Chrysura sonorensis, Chrysis parkeri, Chrysis derivata, Chrysis coerulans, Cerotachrysis enhuycki, Trichrysis doriae and Hedychridium solierellae were studied. Omalus iridescens and Omalus purpuratus larvae were observed only in the fifth instar. The major differences between species or genera were found in the first instar larvae. The other larval instars differed in size but behaved similarly. The first instar larvae had a sclerotized, prognathous head, sharp sickle shape mandibles. When threatened the parasite larvae could escape quickly with the help of the forked appendages of the first segment. All the species except in Chrysura killed the host in the first instar and fed on the prey stored by their hosts. The Chrysura first instar attacked the host bee larva only after the latter had spun its cocoon. By the fifth instar all species of larvae had developed several teeth (two to three) at the distal end of each mandible. The hardening of these teeth coincided with the change of the food consistency from liquid to solid. The study also included a proposed evolutionary scheme of the possible pathway of morphological and behavioral characters that might ensure more successful parasitism.

Deserts are interesting places due to the large number of plants and animals that live there. Nocturnal wasps are extremely abundant in deserts, but they are difficult to identify and their life cycles are not well known especially the families of Chyphotidae, Tiphiidae (Brachycistidinae), and Mutillidae (velvet ants). In this dissertation, I determine how to correctly identify a particularly difficult group of species that all have black heads from the family Chyphotidae. This is important because these species make up a large proportion of specimens collected. Also, I expanded our knowledge on the distribution of the species of these three families of wasps by conducting a trap-transect study in Joshua Tree National Park catching 22 species of Brachyscistidinae based on the collection of 13,960 specimens, 11 species of Chyphotes based on the collection of 1,513 specimens and 35 species of velvet ants based on 8,447 specimens. From this study, three new species of velvet ants are described: Odontophotopsis dalyi Sadler and Pitts, sp. nov., O. odontoloxia Sadler and Pitts, sp. nov., and Photomorphus schoenwerthi Sadler and Pitts, sp. nov. Lastly, I used new molecular methods to determine relationships of the species of Brachyscistis, Chyphotes, and Odontophotopsis. These relationships suggest that the species are young, which is contradictory to evidence based on birds and mammals. These relationships also support dates for the inundation of southern California by the Boues Sea Embayment and confirm a hypothesized Baja Inner Peninsular Seaway.

Parasitic insects are known for their distinct life strategy: they necessarily kill their hosts in order to complete their life cycle. Eighty percent of parasitoids species belongs to the order Hymenoptera (bees, ants and wasps). Among parasitoid wasps Ichneumonidae stands out with more than 25 thousand species and a great diversity of habits and hosts. Despite the large number of species already described, there is a low representativeness of species in tropical regions, mainly due to the lack of taxonomical studies in those areas. The objective of the present study was to compile the information on the biology of Ichneumonidae through an extensive literature review and to conduct a taxonomic study of the species of Charops Holmgren, 1859 (Campopleginae) occurring in Brazil. It was observed that out of the 950 species of Ichneumonidae registered in Brazil, less than 10% present some host records. These records are mainly concentrated in the south and southeast of the Brazil where the relatively largest number of taxonomists are concentrated. In addition, most of the records relate to hosts of economic importance in corn, soybean and cotton crops. Little is known about the parasitoid / host interaction in natural Brazilian biomes. Also, thirty-three species with dubious occurrence in Brazil were found. Notwithstanding Campopleginae being one of the subfamilies with the highest number of host records, taxonomical studies on it are still scarce in Brazil. An example is the genus Charops, which despite having recorded for Brazil at genus level, has never been studied through a taxonomic point of view. The study of 614 specimens of this genus revealed 9 new species from Brazil, being the first described for South America. Its geographical distribution record is expanded and illustrated in distribution maps. High resolution images and a key for these species are also provided. / Insetos parasitoides são conhecidos pela sua distinta estratégia de vida, na qual para concluir o seu ciclo de vida necessariamente matam os seus hospedeiros. Oitenta por cento das espécies de parasitoides pertencem à ordem Hymenoptera (abelhas, formigas e vespas). Dentre as vespas parasitoides destaca-se a família Ichneumonidae, que possui mais de 25 mil espécies nominais e apresenta grande diversidade de hábitos e hospedeiros. Apesar do grande número de espécies já descritas, existe uma baixa representatividade de espécies conhecidas de regiões tropicais devido, principalmente, à escassez de estudos taxonômicos na região. O presente estudo teve por objetivo compilar as informações sobre a biologia de Ichneumonidae a partir de uma extensa revisão da literatura e realizar um estudo taxonômico das espécies de Charops Holmgren, 1859 (Campopleginae) que ocorrem no Brasil. Foi observado que cerca das 950 espécies de Ichneumonidae que ocorrem no Brasil, menos de 10% possuem algum registro de hospedeiro. Tais registros estão concentrados principalmente nas regiões sul e sudeste do Brasil aonde se concentra a maior quantidade de taxonomistas do país. Além disso, grande parte dos registros referem-se a hospedeiros de importância econômica nas culturas de milho, soja e algodão. Pouco se sabe sobre a interação entre parasitoides/hospedeiros em biomas naturais brasileiros. Foram encontradas 33 espécies que apresentam registro de ocorrência dúbio para o Brasil. Apesar de ser uma das subfamílias com maior número de registros de hospedeiro, Campopleginae permanece relativamente carente de estudos taxonômicos no Brasil. Um exemplo disso é o gênero Charops que apesar de apresentar registros para o Brasil (em nível de gênero), nunca foi estudado através de um viés taxonômico. O estudo de 614 exemplares deste gênero revelou 9 espécies novas para o Brasil, sendo estas as primeiras espécies descritas para a América do Sul. Sua distribuição geográfica conhecida foi ampliada e ilustrada em mapas de distribuição. Imagens de alta resolução e uma chave de identificação para essas espécies são fornecidas.

Trichogramma demoraesi Nagaraja, 1983, T. manicobai Brun, Moraes e Soares, 1984 e T. marandobai Brun, Moraes e Soares, 1986 têm sido referidos como parasitoides de ovos do mandarová-da-mandioca, Erinnyis ello (L., 1758), em plantações de mandioca no Brasil. Entretanto, com base na a análise comparativa dos caracteres morfológicos do parátipo (macho) de T. demoraesi, depositado no The Natural History Museum, Londres, com os exemplares, obtidos de ovos do mandarová-da-mandioca, identificados anteriormente como T. demoraesi (coleção da ESALQ), verificou-se que esses exemplares não pertencem a T. demoraesi, mas são realmente espécimes de T. marandobai. Portanto, T. demoraesi não parasita ovos de E. ello no Brasil. Assim, apenas T. manicobai e T. marandobai foram caracterizadas e ilustradas detalhadamente, pois as descrições originais dessas espécies são sucintas e não foram adequadamente ilustradas. O processo intervolselar de T. marandobai apresenta variações no ápice (arredondado ou truncado). Entretanto, com base nas análises biológicas (cruzamentos), morfométricas e moleculares, comprovou-se que os espécimes com processo intervolselar truncado ou arredondado são variações intraespecíficas de T. marandobai. / Trichogramma demoraesi Nagaraja, 1983, T. manicobai Brun, Moraes e Soares, 1984 e T. marandobai Brun, Moraes e Soares, 1986 have been reported as egg parasitoids of Erinnyis ello (L.) on cassava in Brazil. However, the comparative analysis of the morphological characters of the paratype (male) of T. demoraesi, deposited at The Natural History Museum, London, with specimens from eggs of Erinnyis ello, previously identified as T. demoraesi (ESALQ collection), indicated, in fact, that these specimens do not belong T. demoraesi, but to T. marandobai. Therefore, T. demoraesi does not parasitize eggs of E. ello in Brazil. Then, only T. manicobai and T. marandobai were characterized and illustrated in detail, because original descriptions for both species are succinct and poorly depicted. The intervolsellar process (blunt or truncated apically) of T. marandobai was found to be plastic. However, based on biological (crossings), morphometric and molecular analyses, it was proved that specimens with blunt or truncated intervolsellar process are intraspecific variations of T. marandobai.

O presente estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de investigar: 1. o comportamento da diversidade de Vespoidea solitários ao longo do gradiente altitudinal no Morro do Cuzcuzeiro, no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Brasil, 2. a presença de padrões de diversidade ao longo do gradiente, 3. verificar a influência das condições climáticas no estabelecimento destes padrões e 4. acessar a organização estrutural da assembléia de Vespoidea solitários ao longo do gradiente adotado. Para isso, adotei seis cotas altitudinais (50, 200, 400, 600, 800 e 1000 metros acima do nível do mar) na face sudoeste do Morro do Cuscuzeiro, coletando 12 amostras de Malaise e 24 de Möericke (pratos amarelos) em cada uma delas, ao longo de dois transectos de 200m cada e em duas estações chuvosas consecutivas, a primeria em 2006 e a segunda em 2007, distanciados respectivamente a 100 e a 50 metros um do outro. Cada amostra de Malaise foi agrupada aleatoriamente a duas amostras de Möericke para compor 12 unidades amostrais para cada cota. As 72 unidades amostrais compuseram então a matriz de dados que serviu de base para as análises de diversidade. A riqueza observada em todo o gradiente foi de 76 espécies solitárias de Vespoidea (incluindo as espécies de Mutillidae, Pompilidae, Rhopalosomatidae, Scoliidae, Tiphiidae e Vespidae Eumeninae). Contudo, apenas a assembléia de Tiphiidae apresentou padrão com pico de riqueza nas altitudes intermediárias (cota dos 600 metros de altitude). Os modelos regressivos utilizados não foram capazes de explicar o comportamento da diversidade de espécies ao longo do gradiente dos outros dois grupos investigados (Vespoidea solitários e Pompilidae). De acordo com o teste de &quotMid-domain&quot, o padrão de riqueza observado para a fauna de Tiphiidae não é influenciado pelos fatores climáticos. Considerando os níveis taxonômicos mais altos da classificação de Vespoidea, a diversidade taxonômica total foi maior na cota dos 50 metros, que no caso apresentou distinção taxonômica apenas marginalmente significativa. A única cota que apresentou distinção significativa foi a dos 600 metros, sugerindo uma assembléia estruturada de forma distinta das demais cotas do gradiente. Estes resultados e os valores de diversidade de Shannon indicam que esta região do gradiente é aquela que apresenta maior complexidade. Para descrever a organização estrutural da assembléia de Vespoidea solitários ao longo do gradiente altitudinal em questão, utilizei metodologias de análises que empregam índices de similaridade, considerando a posição relativa das espécies solitárias de Vespoidea no espaço geográfico que define o gradiente em questão. Os resultados destas análises sugerem que a assembléia de Vespoidea solitários está estruturada num continnum e que a variação na composição faunística ao longo do gradiente varia de maneira significativa. / The present study aims to investigate: 1. the diversity of solitary Vespoidea along an altitudinal gradient on the Cuzcuzeiro Mountain in the Serra do Mar State Park, São Paulo, Brazil, 2. to investigate the presence of diversity patterns along the gradient, 3. to check the influence of climatic conditions on the establishment of these patterns and 4. to access the structural organization of the solitary Vespoidea assemblage along the adopted altitudinal gradient. For this, I adopted six altitudinal quotas (50, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 meters above sea level) on the Cuzcuzeriro Mountains southwest face, collecting 12 Malaise and 24 Möericke trap samples (yellow pans) at each quota, along two transects of 200 meters length each in two consecutive rainy seasons, 2006 and 2007, spaced respectively 100 and 50 meters one from each other. Each Malaise trap sample was randomly grouped with two Möericke trap samples to compose 12 sampling units for each quota. So, the 72 sampling units make the data matrix used for the diversity statistic analyses. The richness observed throughout the gradient was 76 solitary Vespoidea species (including those of Mutillidae, Pompilidae, Rhopalosomatidae, Scoliidae, Tiphiidae and Vespidae Eumeninae). Only the Tiphiidae assemblages presented a diversity peak at intermediate elevations (600 meters quota); the regressive models used were not able to explain the species diversity of other studied assemblages (solitary Vespoidea and Pompilidae, in this case analyzed in separate) along the adopted altitudinal gradient. According to the mid-domain test, the richness pattern of Tiphiidae is not influenced by the climatic agent. Considering the higher taxa of Vespoidea, the taxonomic diversity was more evident in the 50 meters quota, which presented only marginally significant taxonomic distinctness in relation to the other quotas. The 600 meters quota was the only one that presented significant taxonomic distinctness from the others, suggesting that there the solitary Vespoidea assemblage presents a distinct structure from the others. These results and the Shannon diversity values indicate that the middle of gradient presents higher complexity. To describe the structural organization of the solitary Vespoidea assemblage along the altitudinal gradient, I used analytic methodologies that employ similarity indexes, considering the relative position of the solitary Vespoidea species in the geographic space that defines the adopted altitudinal gradient. The results of these analyses suggest that the solitary Vespoidea assemblage is structured as a continnum and that the faunistic composition changes significantly along the altitudinal gradient on the Cuzcuzeiro Mountain.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-04-27T17:35:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Thiago Blanc Celino.pdf: 6972677 bytes, checksum: 143eeb47588b45b8bb4ab7a3bf4e4d31 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-27T17:35:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Thiago Blanc Celino.pdf: 6972677 bytes, checksum: 143eeb47588b45b8bb4ab7a3bf4e4d31 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-27 / CAPES / This work was performed in human cadavers and animal carcasses, with the aim to describe the injuries and assess the evolution of these artifacts during development of the decomposition process. The cadavers were examined at the scene and at the morgue. Two types of substrates were found: found accidentally and intentionally exposed to the activity of ants. Data collection for the bodies lasted a year, in Rio de Janeiro and Amazonas. Data collection for carcasses was held in July, followed by two years in an army barracks, in Rio de Janeiro. The specimens were collected with tweezers and transported to the laboratory immersed in 70% ethanol. We used three domestic pig - Sus scrofa, dead at the scene by shooting projectile firearm and exposed areas with nests inside a modified Shannon trap, a distance of 50 meters from each other. Four pitfalls were arranged around the traps. Photographs were made and only one or two specimens that caused artifacts were collected, relating them with injuries. The specimens were conducted for Myrmecology Laboratory of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro for identification. During the research , we analyzed eight cases of human cadavers, in which were collected : a) Myrmicinae subfamily , tribe Solenopsidini possibly genus Solenopsis spp b ) Camponotus sp.1 c ) Camponotus sp.2 d ) Camponotus rufipes ; e) Pheidole sp. 1 f ) Ectatomma sp.1 g ) Cephalotes atratus h) Crematogaster sp.1 i) small ants unidentified. However , only the first taxon was found associated with the corpses of the IML. Associated with animal carcasses were found : a) Solenopsis sp.1 b ) Pheidole sp.1 c ) Brachymyrmex sp.1 d ) Wasmannia sp.1 e) Ectatomma lugens . The latter being associated with animal carcass found accidentally. Among the collected species, Ectatomma sp.1 Brachymyrmex sp.1 and Wasmannia sp.1 causing artifacts were not observed. The lesions encountered can be described as serpentine punctuated by presenting color ranging from yellow to dark brown. They had removing skin surface such as scratches, in some cases, removal of the evolved to underlying tissues. In some cases, the detachment of the epidermis formed a clump of skin similar to those observed in cadavers in more advanced stage of decomposition. The jaws of the ants produce lesions in the superficial vessels causing bleeding postmortem. We also observed similar chemical injuries to injuries intra vitam produced by burning acid and / or smoking. Lesions caused by Solenopsis sp. was possible to trace the tracks of foraging evidenced by formic acid , as well as the accumulation of dirt, indicating the attempt of ants close these post-mortem lesions. It was found that ants can lead to skeletonization of small carcasses. The domestic pig carcasses showed artifacts similar to those found in bodies, at least until they reach the beginning of the initial stage of deterioration, when the activity of the flies hampered his observation. / Este trabalho foi realizado em cad?veres humanos e em carca?as animais, com o objetivo de descrever as les?es e avaliar a evolu??o desses artefatos durante o desenvolvimento do processo de decomposi??o. Os cad?veres humanos foram examinados na cena do crime e no necrot?rio. Dois tipos de carca?as foram avaliadas: encontradas acidentalmente e intencionalmente expostas ? atividade de formigas. A coleta de dados relativa aos corpos durou um ano, no Rio de Janeiro e no Amazonas e a relativa ?s carca?as foi realizada em julho, por dois anos seguidos, no Rio de Janeiro. Os esp?cimes foram coletados com pin?as e transportados ao laborat?rio fixados em etanol 70%. Foram utilizados tr?s porcos dom?sticos - Sus scrofa, mortos no local, atrav?s de disparo de proj?til de arma de fogo e expostos em ?reas com formigueiros dentro de uma armadilha tipo Shannon modificada, a dist?ncia de 50 metros uma das outras. Quatro armadilhas de solo foram dispostas entorno das armadilha Shannon. Fotografias foram confeccionadas e apenas um ou dois exemplares que causaram os artefatos foram coletados, relacionando-os com as les?es. Os exemplares foram conduzidos para o Laborat?rio de Mirmecologia da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro para identifica??o taxon?mica. Durante a pesquisa, foram analisados oito casos de cad?veres humanos, nos quais foram observados: a) Subfam?lia Myrmicinae, Tribo Solenopsidini, g?nero Solenopsis spp; b) Camponotus sp.1; c) Camponotus sp.2; d) Camponotus rufipes; e) Pheidole sp. 1; f) Ectatomma sp.1; g) Cephalotes atratus; h) Crematogaster sp.1; i) formigas pequenas n?o identificadas. Por?m, apenas o primeiro t?xon foi encontrado associado aos cad?veres do IML. Associados ?s carca?as animais foram encontrados: a) Solenopsis sp.1; b) Pheidole sp.1; c) Brachymyrmex sp.1; d) Wasmannia sp.1; e) Ectatomma lugens; sendo esta ?ltima associada ? carca?a animal encontrada acidentalmente. Dentre todas as esp?cies coletadas, Ectatomma sp.1, Brachymyrmex sp.1 e Wasmannia sp.1 n?o foram observadas causando artefatos. As les?es encontradas podem ser descritas como serpentiformes, pontuadas, apresentando colora??o que variava do amarelo at? o marrom escuro. Elas apresentavam remo??o de pele superficial como arranh?es que, em alguns casos, evolu?ram at? a remo??o dos tecidos subjacentes. Em alguns casos, o destacamento da epiderme formou um amontoado de pele similar ?queles observados em cad?veres em est?gio de decomposi??o mais avan?ados. As mand?bulas das formigas produziram les?es nos vasos superficiais causando sangramento p?s-morte. Tamb?m foram observadas les?es qu?micas similares a les?es intra vitam produzidas por queimadura de ?cido e/ou cigarro. Nas les?es provocadas por Solenopsis sp. foi poss?vel tra?ar as trilhas de forrageamento evidenciadas pelo ?cido f?rmico, bem como pelo ac?mulo de sujeira, indicando a tentativa das formigas fecharem estas les?es p?s-morte. Foi verificado que as formigas podem levar a esqueletiza??o de carca?as de pequeno porte. As carca?as de porco dom?stico apresentaram artefatos similares ?queles encontrados em corpos humanos, pelo menos at? alcan?arem o in?cio do est?gio de deteriora??o inicial, quando a atividade dos d?pteros dificultou sua observa??o.

Geluoninių plėviasparnių, apsigyvenančių lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse bendrijos, yra potencialūs ekologinių pokyčių ir buveinių kokybės bioindikatoriai sausumos ekosistemose, todėl vis dažniau naudojamos įvairiuose tyrimuose. Darbo tikslas buvo įvertinti lizdavietės rodiklių ir grobio, reikalingo palikuonims aprūpinti, gausumo įtaką lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse apsigyvenančių klosčiavapsvių rūpinimosi palikuonimis elgsenai. Tyrimų metu buvo ištirta lizdavietės skersmens ir gylio įtaka 13-kos lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse apsigyvenančių vapsvų rūšių lizdo struktūrai, palikuonių aprūpinimo maistu elgsenai ir lyčių santykiui; kai kurioms rūšims nustatyti optimalūs lizdavietės rodikliai. Taip pat buvo ištirtas, dažniausiai lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse pasitaikiusios rūšies, Symmorphus allobrogus vystymasis nuo kiaušinio iki suaugėlio; palyginti skirtingų lyčių individų augimo greičiai ir svorio pokyčiai vystymosi metu. Atliktas laboratorinis eksperimentas, kurio rezultatai parodė, kad akelių skaičius lizde būna didesnis, jeigu aplinkoje yra didesnis maisto, reikalingo palikuonims aprūpinti, kiekis. Taip pat įvertinta patelės amžiaus įtaka rūpinimosi palikuonimis elgsenai. Darbe taip pat pateikiamas sinantropinių, Lietuvoje lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse apsigyvenančių plėviasparnių rūšių sąrašas. / Since Hymenoptera Aculeate are known to be bioindicators, which are sensitive to environment change, fragmentation of habitats and antropogenous impact, these insects may have an importance in environment conservation. The purpose of our study was to establish impact of nesting cavity parameters and prey abundance on the nesting behaviour of solitary xylicolous wasps. We studied nest structure and the influence of nesting cavity width and length on progeny size and sex ratio in 13 wasp species. The development of the most common synanthropic xylicolous wasp in Lithuania, Symmorphus allobrogus, has been investigated: the assimilation of prey and weight loss during development from larva to adult in both sexes have been compared. Results of a laboratory experiment using S. allobrogus as a model species demonstrated that the amount of prey available in the environment affects the number of cells in the nest of solitary wasp. The list of solitary Hymenoptera inhabiting trap-nests in Lithuania are presented.

Since Hymenoptera Aculeate are known to be bioindicators, which are sensitive to environment change, fragmentation of habitats and antropogenous impact, these insects may have an importance in environment conservation. The purpose of our study was to establish impact of nesting cavity parameters and prey abundance on the nesting behaviour of solitary xylicolous wasps. We studied nest structure and the influence of nesting cavity width and length on progeny size and sex ratio in 13 wasp species. The development of the most common synanthropic xylicolous wasp in Lithuania, Symmorphus allobrogus, has been investigated: the assimilation of prey and weight loss during development from larva to adult in both sexes have been compared. Results of a laboratory experiment using S. allobrogus as a model species demonstrated that the amount of prey available in the environment affects the number of cells in the nest of solitary wasp. The list of solitary Hymenoptera inhabiting trap-nests in Lithuania are presented. / Geluoninių plėviasparnių, apsigyvenančių lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse bendrijos, yra potencialūs ekologinių pokyčių ir buveinių kokybės bioindikatoriai sausumos ekosistemose, todėl vis dažniau naudojamos įvairiuose tyrimuose. Darbo tikslas buvo įvertinti lizdavietės rodiklių ir grobio, reikalingo palikuonims aprūpinti, gausumo įtaką lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse apsigyvenančių klosčiavapsvių rūpinimosi palikuonimis elgsenai. Tyrimų metu buvo ištirta lizdavietės skersmens ir gylio įtaka 13-kos lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse apsigyvenančių vapsvų rūšių lizdo struktūrai, palikuonių aprūpinimo maistu elgsenai ir lyčių santykiui; kai kurioms rūšims nustatyti optimalūs lizdavietės rodikliai. Taip pat buvo ištirtas, dažniausiai lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse pasitaikiusios rūšies, Symmorphus allobrogus vystymasis nuo kiaušinio iki suaugėlio; palyginti skirtingų lyčių individų augimo greičiai ir svorio pokyčiai vystymosi metu. Atliktas laboratorinis eksperimentas, kurio rezultatai parodė, kad akelių skaičius lizde būna didesnis, jeigu aplinkoje yra didesnis maisto, reikalingo palikuonims aprūpinti, kiekis. Taip pat įvertinta patelės amžiaus įtaka rūpinimosi palikuonimis elgsenai. Darbe taip pat pateikiamas sinantropinių, Lietuvoje lizdavietėse-gaudyklėse apsigyvenančių plėviasparnių rūšių sąrašas.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 471774 bytes, checksum: 5e643026f3d91d5d68b2c035112de460 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-07-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Melipona rufiventris, Lepeletier, 1836 and M. mondury, Smith, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) are species genetically close popularly known as "uruçu amarela". Recent studies, using molecular markers showed that the population of "uruçu amarela" in Minas Gerais form distinct groups. M. mondury comes from the Atlantic Forest region, whereas M. rufiventris and a third species, known as Melipona sp. but not yet identified comes from the biome "Cerrado". The goal of this work was to study the genetic relationships between the population of "uruçu amarela" in the State of Minas Gerais using the ISSR molecular markers. 79 colonies from 10 different locations were used. The extracted DNA was amplified using nine ISSR primers and for the analysis one individual per colony was used. For the estimation of genetic differentiation the following analysis were done: (i) Percentage of polymorphic loci (P) and genetic diversity (ii) Genetic dissimilarity using the index of Dice and the method UPGMA (iii) Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and φst. The findings showed a high polymorphism in molecular level among the colonies studied. In the grouping analysis the formation of three distinct groups, composed by M. mondury, M. rufiventris, Melipona sp.. We observed Melipona sp. the population of Urucuia showed significant genetic divergence in relation to the other samples. / Melipona rufiventris, Lepeletier, 1836 e M. mondury, Smith, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) são espécies geneticamente similares, popularmente conhecidas como uruçu amarela. Estudos recentes, utilizando marcadores moleculares mostraram que as populações de uruçu amarela em Minas Gerais formam grupos distintos, sendo M. mondury pertencente à região de Mata Atlântica, M. rufiventris e uma terceira espécie, ainda não identificada aqui denominada de Melipona sp., pertencentes à região do Cerrado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as relações genéticas entre as populações de uruçu amarela no Estado de Minas Gerais, utilizando-se marcadores moleculares ISSR. Foram utilizadas 79 colônias oriundas de 10 localidades diferentes. Para cada colônia, extraiu-se DNA de um indivíduo e utilizouse nove primers ISSR na amplificação. Para a estimativa da diferenciação genética foram realizadas as seguintes análises: (i) Percentual de locos polimórficos (P) e a estimativa da diversidade genética (He); (ii) Dissimilaridade genética utilizando-se o índice de Dice e o método UPGMA; (iii) Análise de variância molecular e φst. Os resultados obtidos mostraram um elevado polimorfismo em nível molecular entre as colônias estudadas. A análise de agrupamento resultou na formação de três grupos distintos representados pelas populações de M. mondury, M. rufiventris e Melipona sp.. No grupo formado pelas populações de Melipona sp. destacam-se as colônias oriundas de Urucuia - MG por apresentarem maior divergência genética em relação às demais localidades.