As hipersensibilidades do tipo I são caracterizadas por um grupo heterogêneo de manifestações clínicas que atingem mais de 30% da população mundial. Novas reatividades a alérgenos regionais brasileiros têm sido descritas e muitas fontes ainda não são totalmente conhecidas. Dentre os alérgenos mais prevalentes estão os venenos de insetos. A vespa regional Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera vespidae) é endêmica no sudeste do Brasil e é responsável por acidentes graves, causando reações alérgicas que podem levar ao choque anafilático. Alguns componentes dos venenos de vespas de diferentes espécies apresentam mimetismo molecular ou biológico, podendo gerar reação imunológica cruzada, mas muitas vezes não são os responsáveis pelo desencadeamento da resposta alérgica. Isto ocasiona falha no diagnóstico e consequentemente no tratamento indicado, a imunoterapia alérgeno-específica. Diante desses fatos e do grande número de pacientes que procuram o Serviço de Imunologia Clínica e Alergia do Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo (HCFMUSP) com manifestações clínicas de alergias a ferroadas de insetos, foi desenvolvida uma sistemática de investigação clínica e laboratorial, com ênfase na abordagem proteômica, para identificar e caracterizar físico-química e imunologicamente novos alérgenos do veneno da vespa Polybia paulista e estudar potenciais reatividades cruzadas com alérgenos já conhecidos. Vinte e um pacientes com história de anafilaxia a venenos de vespa foram selecionados para participar do estudo. Foram realizados testes cutâneos e in vitro com veneno de Polistes spp. disponível comercialmente e com o veneno da Polybia paulista, produzido seguindo o protocolo padronizado anteriormente. Os resultados mostraram que a maioria dos pacientes apresentam IgE específica para os dois venenos com maior reatividade ao veneno de Polybia e que o padrão de proteínas reconhecidas entre os dois venenos é diferente, evidenciando a necessidade de veneno de Polybia paulista na prática clínica nas regiões cuja vespa está presente. Foram identificadas mais de 2000 proteínas no extrato total do veneno de Polybia paulista e algumas proteínas alergênicas ainda não descritas. Dentre elas foi identificada uma nova isoforma ao antígeno 5 da vespa Polybia scutellaris relatada como hipoalergênica. A molécula foi produzida na forma recombinante com conformação adequada, pela primeira vez em E. coli. O alérgeno, registrado na IUIS como Poly p 5, foi reconhecido por IgEs no soro dos pacientes testados e apresenta reatividade cruzada com outros antígenos 5 homólogos. Testes de desgranulação de basófilos em linhagem celular de ratos mostraram que o Poly p 5 induziu pouca desgranulação, indicando seu potencial hipoalergênico / Type I hypersensitivity is characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations and specialists estimate that today around 30% of the general population suffers from an allergic disease. New allergens are being reported and some sources are not yet identified. Insect venoms are amongst the most prevalent allergen sources. The social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera vespidae) is endemic in the southeastern of Brazil and is responsible for serious accidents due to their venomous stings, causing allergic reactions that can lead to anaphylactic shock. Several components presenting molecular or biological mimicry can be found in different species of wasps and lead to a cross-immunological reaction but they are not always responsible for the allergic manifestations. Therefore, diagnostic and consequently immunotherapy is unsuccessful, since specific allergen identification is crucial. Considering the high number of patients attended at the \"Serviço de Imunologia Clínica e Alergia do Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo\" with clinical manifestations of allergies not yet determined or barely studied, an approach involving a systematic clinical, laboratorial and investigative practice through a proteomic analysis was created to identify and characterize new allergens of Polybia paulista venom. Twenty-one patients with clinical history of anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venoms were selected for this work. Cutaneous and in vitro tests were performed using Polistes venom commercially available as well as Polybia paulista venom, produced following a published protocol. The results shows that the majority of the patients has specific IgE for both venoms with biggest reactivity to Polybia paulista venom and the protein profile recognized in these venoms is different. More than 2000 proteins were identified in the whole venom extract of Polybia paulista and some of the allergenic proteins are not yet described in this venom. Among them, a new isoform that is similar to antigen 5 from Polybia scutellaris, already known as hypoallergenic. The molecule was produced as a recombinant properly folded for the first time in E. coli. The allergen, registered at IUIS as Poly p 5, was recognized by IgEs in the sera of 50% of the patients tested and has cross-reactivity with other homologs of antigen 5. Basophil degranulation tests in rat lineage cells showed that Poly p 5 induced little degranulation, indicating the hypoallergenic potential of this molecule

As vespas da tribo Epiponini apresentam colônias com várias rainhas, cujo número varia durante o ciclo colonial. Nas colônias há inicialmente um número maior de rainhas, mas conforme o ciclo se desenvolve seu número diminui. Tem sido argumentado que nas colônias com indivíduos totipotentes pode haver conflitos de interesse entre rainhas e operárias. Neste contexto as operárias que são maioria poderiam ter uma vantagem para regular a produção de rainhas. Nos Epiponini o controle reprodutivo é feito possivelmente por sinalização química, que junto com posturas ritualizadas comunicam a presença da rainha na colônia. Como o processo de produção de rainhas é pouco conhecido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o comportamento de rainhas e operárias durante a fase de produção e seleção de modo a interpretar filogeneticamente as mudanças comportamentais entre as espécies. O estudo foi conduzido utilizando-se nove espécies de cinco gêneros: Chartergellus, Metapolybia, Protopolybia, Polybia, Brachygastra. Em cada colônia foram marcadas todas as rainhas, algumas operárias, e fêmeas recém-emergidas para realizar observações focais e filmagens dos comportamentos. Para promover a produção de rainhas foram feitos testes de remoção. Alguns dos comportamentos característicos das rainhas, e aqueles associados ao processo de seleção, tiveram sua origem interpretada filogeneticamente. O comportamento que melhor identifica as rainhas é o bending display I (BD1), um display de dominância feito das rainhas para as operárias, que foi basal para os Epiponini. O BD1 feito das operárias para as rainhas é uma apomorfía das operárias de Metapolybia. Outros comportamentos de teste entre rainhas surgiram independentemente em algumas espécies e poderiam estar relacionados com um aumento na complexidade das interações. Os testes das operárias estariam presentes no ancestral dos Epopinini indicando que elas controlam a seleção das rainhas. O comportamento de worker dance é utilizado principalmente pelas operarias dos clados de Polybia e Metapolybia para testar a capacidade reprodutiva das rainhas. Parece que os comportamentos ritualizados de dominância e de teste são utilizados como sinais honestos do potencial reprodutivo das fêmeas em vez de comportamentos agressivos. Em Metapolybia e Protopolybia exigua o BD1 é realizado com maior frequência após a eliminação da rainha e durante a seleção, diferente de Chartergellus e Protopolybia picteti onde não houve mudança. Em Chartergellus não houve um aumento dos displays, porque as fêmeas no geral não interagiam e a seleção é feita mediante a expulsão das rainhas. Em P. picteti nem todas as rainhas foram eliminadas. Em Metapolybia e Chartergellus no início do ciclo colonial há tolerância reprodutiva, e a eliminação das rainhas estimulou muitas fêmeas a ovipositar, mas o número eventualmente diminui. Este resultado mostra que a delimitação de casta poderia ser feita mediante algum tipo de sinalização química. Em Protopolybia há pouca redução do número de rainhas ao longo do ciclo e as intermediárias constantemente tentam botar ovos. Para as intermediárias é conveniente manter os ovários ativos para tentar atingir o status de rainha em uma nova colônia. A totipotência das fêmeas para desenvolver seus ovários é basal para os Epiponini. As operárias e intermediárias jovens, de idade intermediária e velhas podem desenvolver seus ovários diante da ausência da rainha. A flexibilidade é um traço muito importante nos Epiponini, uma vez que permite à população responder a situações adversas, mobilizando indivíduos a realizar diferentes tarefas segundo as necessidades da população. / Epiponini wasps have colonies with multiple queens, which alternate their number under different stages of the colony cycle. Initially there are several potential queens, but as the colony cycle develops, queen number is reduced. Because most of individuals remain reproductively totipotent there is great potential for conflicts over reproduction. Under this conditions workers could have an advantage to control queen production because they are the dominant caste. Reproductive control could be performed by chemical signals, which along with ritualized behaviors communicate queen presence in the colony. However, queen selection process is a little known across Epiponini, and for this reason our goal was to study queens and workers behavior during queen selection phase, performing a phylogenetic analysis to understand behavioral changes among species. We performed observations in nine species belong to five genera: Chartergellus, Metapolybia, Protopolybia, Polybia, Brachygastra. We marked queens, a sample of workers and newly emerged females to perform direct and video focal observations. To induce queen production, we performed queen removal tests. Some of queens characteristic behaviors and those associated with queen selection process were analyzed via phylogenetic optimization. Bending display I (BD1) is a dominance display performed queens against workers, is the behavior that better identify queens and is also basal for all Epiponini clades. BD1 perform from workers to queens is an apomorphy of Metapolybia. Another test behaviors performed among queens appeared independently in some species, and could be related with an increase of interaction complexity. Worker tests were present in the Epiponini ancestor, indicating that workers are in charge of queen control. Worker dance behavior was synapomorphic for the clade composed by Polybia, Metapolybia and their close related genera, in which workers test queens reproductive potential. Apparently, ritualized tests and dominance behaviors are used in Epiponini as honest signals of queens reproductive potential instead of aggressive behaviors. In Metapolybia and in Protopolybia exigua, BD1 is performed with high frequency after queen elimination and during queen selection process. On the other hand, in Chartergellus and Protopolybia picteti displays frequency did not change. In Chartergellus BD1 frequency did not change because females do not interact to each other a lot, also queen selection is performed by queens expulsion instead by tests. In P. picteti we possibly failed to remove all queens from the colony. Metapolybia and Chartergellus have reproductive tolerance between females during first stages of colony cycle, and queen elimination induced females to lay eggs, but queen number eventually is reduced. These results suggest that reproductive control in fact could be performed by chemical signals. On the other hand, in Protopolybia queens number change little during the colony cycle. In adition, intermediates constantly attempt to lay eggs. Persistence oviposition could be convenient for intermediates in Protopolybia to achieve queen status in new colonies. Females totipotency to develop ovaries is also basal for Epiponini. Not only young females develop their ovaries under queen lost; old and middle age individuals also attempt to replace the queen. Caste flexibility is decisive for colony survival of swarm wasps because allows colonies to respond efficiently to different situations that may eventually arise.

A região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo é uma das que mais sofre com o processo de fragmentação da vegetação natural que foi substituída principalmente por ambientes urbanizados, pastagens e áreas agriculturáveis. Cana-de-açúcar e citricultura são duas das principais monoculturas presentes atualmente na região. A área de entorno (matriz) dos fragmentos florestais exerce influência nas populações que habitam seu interior, incluindo o grupo das vespas sociais. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de realizar um levantamento das vespas sociais (Polistinae) presentes em fragmentos florestais do Noroeste Paulista com matrizes de entorno compostas por canaviais e laranjais. Utilizamos uma metodologia baseada em coleta ativa utilizando líquido atrativo em um transecto no interior e um na borda dos fragmentos e obtivemos 20 espécies em Magda, 13 em Bebedouro, 13 em Matão e 19 em Barretos. Verificamos uma maior riqueza de espécies na borda dos fragmentos. O gênero mais representativo foi Agelaia em todas as áreas analisadas. Os maiores índices de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener foram obtidos nos transectos da borda de Barretos (H=2,26) e borda de Magda (H=2,25), fragmentos circundados por laranja e cana-de-açúcar respectivamente. Analisando a área como umtodo, Magda apresentou a maior diversidade (H=2,12). Espécies como Brachygastra moebiana, Metapolybia docilis, Mischocyttarus ignotus, M. paulistanus e M. consimilis não haviam sido registrados em levantamentos recentes no estado, além disso o registro de M. consimilis aparentemente é novo para o estado de São Paulo. Realizamos comparações com outros levantamentos realizados no estado e verificamos um indício de que a riqueza de vespas sociais pode estar relacionada com a quantidade de vegetação natural remanescente da área. Concluímos que com nossos dados não foi possível observar uma relação entre a ocorrência de vespas sociais e a matriz de entorno. / The northwest of São Paulo State is a region that undergoes a fragmentation process of its natural vegetation that was replaced by urban areas, meadows or farming lands. Sugarcane and citrus are two of the main regional monocultures. The surrounding area (matrix) of forest fragments influences the populations that inhabit the interior, including social wasps. The present work aimed at surveying social wasps (Polistinae) present in forest fragments of northwest of São Paulo State with different surrounding matrices composed by sugarcane and citrus. We used a methodology based on active collection using and attractive liquid in one transect on the edge and one on the interior of the fragments and we collected 20 species in Magda, 13 in Bebedouro, 13 in Matão and 19 in Barretos. We noted a greater richness on the edge of the fragments. Agelaia was the most representative genus in all of the areas. The greatest indices of Shannon-Wiener diversity were obtained on the edge of Barretos (H=2,26) and on the edge of Magda (H=2,25), fragments surrounded by citrus and sugarcane respectively. If the total area was analyzed, Magda showed the greater diversity (H=2,12). Species such as Brachygastra moebiana, Metapolybia docilis, Mischocyttarus ignotus, M. paulistanus and M. consimilis had not been recorded on recent surveys on the state, furthermore Mischocyttarus consimilis apparently is a new record for the São Paulo State. We did comparisons with others surveys made on the state and we noted that social wasps richness can be related with the amount of remnants of natural vegetation in a given area. We concluded that with our data it was not possible to observe a relation between the occurrence of social wasps and the surrounding matrix.

Orientador: Fernando Barbosa Noll / Banca: James M. Carpenter / Banca: Eduardo Andrade Botelho de Almeida / Resumo: Thynninae é a subfamília mais diversa de Tiphiidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) e está presente nas regiões Neotropical e Australásica. É dividida atualmente em quatro tribos, das quais Scotaenini compreende sete gêneros exclusivamente neotropicais. Porém, uma análise cladística recente não recuperou a monofilia do grupo, assim como de Scotaena, Klug, o gênero-tipo da tribo. As 15 espécies atualmente reconhecidas de Scotaena passaram por diversas alterações de status taxonômico desde que foram descritas, sem nenhum suporte cladístico. Através do levantamento de caracteres morfológicos de espécimes fixados do sexo masculino, uma análise cladística foi realizada a fim de se testar a monofilia do gênero. A análise retornou uma única árvore sobe pesagem igual de caracteres, na qual o gênero aparece parafilético e dividido em vários clados. A partir desses resultados, três novas combinações são propostas: Eucyrtothynnus rosenbergi comb. n. (=Scotaena rosenbergi), Glottynoides genisei comb. n. (=Scotaena genisei), e Ornepetes clypearis comb. n. (=Scotaena clypearis). Duas espécies são definidas como incertae sedis: Scotaena brunnea inc. sed. e Scotaena pallida inc. sed. Três gêneros são descritos e suas espécies-tipo redescritas: Kaysara Carnimeo 2017 gen. n., Pseudoscotaena Carnimeo, 2017 gen. n., e Pampathynnus Carnimeo, 2017 gen. n. E cinco novas espécies são descritas: Scotaena reversa Carnimeo, 2017 sp. n.; Kaysara laterolata Carnimeo, 2017 sp. n., Kaysara apiciconcava Carnimeo,... / Abstract: Thynninae is the most diverse subfamily of Tiphiidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) and is distributed in the Neotropical and Australasian regions. It is subdivided into four tribes, among which Scotaenini comprises seven exclusively Neotropical genera. A recent cladistic analysis of Scotaenini did not indicate this clade as a monophyletic group, and suggested that Scotaena Klug, the type-genus of Scotaenini, is not monophyletic either. The 15 species of Scotaena have passed through several taxonomic changes since they were described, without any cladistic analysis to support them. Through the characterization of morphological structures of fixed male specimens, a cladistic analysis was carried out to unravel which species really belong to Scotaena. The analysis returned a single tree under equal weighting, in which the genus was shown to be paraphyletic and divided in several clades. Based on these results, three new combinations are proposed: Eucyrtothynnus rosenbergi (Turner, 1910) comb. n. (=Scotaena rosenbergi), Glottynoides genisei Kimsey, 1991 comb. n. (=Scotaena genisei), and Ornepetes clypearis Durán-Moya, 1941 comb. n. (=Scotaena clypearis). Two species are left as incertae sedis: Scotaena brunnea (Fox, 1898) inc. sed. and Scotaena pallida (Fox, 1898) inc. sed.. Three new genera are described, and their respective type species redescribed: Kaysara Carnimeo gen. n., Pseudoscotaena Carnimeo gen. n., and Pampathynnus Carnimeo gen. n.. Five new species are described: Scotaena reversa Carnimeo sp. n.; Kaysara laterolata Carnimeo sp. n., Kaysara apiciconcava Carnimeo sp. n., Kaysara marginoplicata Carnimeo sp. n., and Kaysara levicrenata Carnimeo sp. n.. Additionally, an identification key and geographical distribution maps are provided for the studied species. Scotaena is now restricted to comprise four species: S. trifasciata Klug, 1810; S. horni (Turner, 1927); S. vetusta Turner, 1909; and S reversa Carnimeo. These results, besides ... / Mestre

Orientador: Carlos Frederico Wilcken / Banca: Leonardo Rodrigues Barbosa / Banca: José Cola Zanúncio / Banca: Pedro José Ferreira Filho / Banca: Genésio Tamara Ribeiro / Resumo: O setor florestal brasileiro tem assumido papel importante na sociedade e economia mundial desde a década de 1990, produzindo e disponibilizando produtos madeireiros e não madeireiros para os mais diversificados segmentos da indústria. O manejo da praga vespa-da-galha, Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), tem sido aperfeiçoado no Brasil em viveiro e campo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram correlacionar a dinâmica populacional dessa praga com variáveis meteorológicas e avaliar a eficiência do controle químico em condições de viveiro e campo. Os Índices de Infestação de L. invasa foram avaliados em regiões com precipitação média anual variando de 800 a 1800 mm, em plantas com idade variando de 2 a 9 anos. A dinâmica e flutuação populacional foi avaliada mensalmente, com a instalação de 25 armadilhas adesivas equidistantes no campo em 2011. O desenvolvimento de galhas e o controle químico foram avaliados em viveiro com 5 inseticidas de ingredientes ativos diferentes. O desenvolvimento volumétrico das plantas no campo foi comparado entre os tratamentos com inseticidas. Os índices de infestação no campo foram superiores nas precipitações médias anuais de 800 a 1100 mm. O número de insetos adultos e os índices de infestação em campo de L. invasa foram maiores nos períodos mais quentes e secos. A distribuição espacial dos adultos de L. invasa apresentou tendência à agregação em campo. O tamanho de galhas foi semelhante entre tratamentos com inseticidas no viveiro... / Abstract: The Brazilian forest sector has assumed an important role in the society and world economy since the 1990s, producing and providing timber and non-timber products for the most diverse industry segments. The management of gall-wasp pest, Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), has been refined in Brazil in the nursery and field. The objectives of this study were to correlate the population dynamics of the pest with meteorological variables and evaluate chemical control efficiency in the nursery and field conditions. The L. invasa infestation indexes were evaluated in areas with average annual rainfall ranging from 800 to 1800 mm in 2 to 9 years old plants. The dynamic and fluctuation population were evaluated monthly, with the installation of 25 equidistant sticky traps in the field in 2011. The development of galls and the chemical control were evaluated in the nursery with 5 insecticides of different active ingredients. The volumetric growth of plants in the field was compared between treatments with insecticides. The Infestation Indexes in the field were higher in the average annual rainfall of 800-1100 mm. The number of adult insects and the Infestation Indexes of L. invasa in the field were higher in hotter and drier periods. The spatial distribution of the L. invasa adults tended to aggregation in the field. The gall size was similar between treatments with insecticides in the nursery. The emergence of L. invasa adults was lower with the insecticide imidacloprid at 1 g a.i./L in the nursery. The development of eucalyptus seedlings showed better volumetric development in the field, when treated in the nursery. Infestation by L. invasa was higher in warmer regions with lower average annual rainfall. This insect can be controlled in the nursery with the insecticide imidacloprid spraying at 1 g a.i./L.... / Doutor

Parasitic wasps constitute one of the last remaining frontiers in the charting of animal diversity. The Braconidae is the second most species-rich family of parasitic wasps; the world fauna has been estimated at 40 000 species and the Swedish fauna is believed to include a little more than 2 000 species, 1 200 of which are currently documented. This thesis is a contribution to the rapidly increasing knowledge of braconid diversity. In paper I, a new gregarious parasitoid, Meteorus acerbiavorus sp. nov. (Braconidae: Eupohrinae), is described from specimens reared from the cocoons of the butterfly Acerbia alpina (Quensel) (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae) in northwestern Finnish Lapland. Based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis, the new species is shown to belong to the M. rubens species group. In the second paper, the Western Palearctic fauna of the tribe is revised, seven new species are described and a key to the Western Palearctic species is presented. Two molecular markers, 28S and COI, are used to study phylogenetic relationships in the tribe. The molecular results showed that the Meteorini fall into four well supported clades. The results also reveal a considerable cryptic species diversity. The third paper deals with distributional, phenological and in many cases rearing data from nearly 2 500 specimens (44 species) of the Meteorini in the collection of the National Museums of Scotland (NMS), Edinburgh. Patterns in the breadth of host ranges are discussed in relation to a reiterated speciation hypothesis. Paper IV examines the phylogenetic relationships of the entire subfamily Euphorinae based upon four gene regions (18S, CAD, 28S D2, and COI). A revised classification of the Euphorinae is proposed that recognizes 55 genera and 14 tribes. Our study shows that early members of the Euphorinae were parasitoids of coleopteran larvae, with a host shift to larval Lepidoptera, adult or immature hosts in the Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera and Psocoptera. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: In press. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

Altruism in its extreme form is seen in social insects where most individuals give up their own reproduction and work to rear the offspring of their queen. The origin and evolution of such sterile worker castes remains a major unsolved problem in evolutionary biology. Primitively eusocial polistine wasps are an attractive model system for investigating this phenomenon. Ropalidia marginata (Lep.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is one such tropical primitively eusocial wasp, in which new nests are initiated either by a single foundress or by a group of female wasps. Worker behaviour in Ropalidia marginata cannot be satisfactorily explained by the haplodiploidy hypothesis due to the existence of polyandry and serial polygyny which reduce intra-colony genetic relatedness to levels lower than the value expected between a solitary foundress and her offspring. Besides, wasps appear to move frequently between newly initiated nests, perhaps further reducing intracolony genetic relatedness. To study social organization and examine the possibility of kin recognition and task specialization under conditions of low intra-colony relatedness, genetically mixed colonies were created by introducing alien one-day old wasps onto recipient nests. As a first step I have tried to determine the factors that influence the acceptance of foreign wasps onto established colonies. I have introduced wasps between 1 to 20 days of age from donor colonies located at least 10 km away onto 12 different recipient colonies, observed these wasps for a period of 10 hours and later dissected them to examine their ovarian condition. Observations were carried out in the blind i.e. the observer was unaware of the identity of the wasps. Wasps upto 6 days of age were accepted by the alien nests. Older wasps may have been rejected because their relatively better ovarian condition may have been perceived as a reproductive threat to the recipient nest. Alternatively, younger wasps may have been accepted because they may be more easily moulded to the desired roles or due to some other correlate of age per se independent of ovarian condition. Although ovarian condition appeared to influence the probability of acceptance, it was not statistically significant in the presence of age in multiple regression models, making a favourable case for the 'ease of moulding hypothesis' or 'age per se hypothesis' over the 'reproductive threat hypothesis'. In any case these findings gave me a method to create genetically mixed colonies. On 12 different nests Ropalidia marginata, I similarly introduced one-day old wasps and thus created genetically mixed colonies. Such an introduction simulates the eclosion of distantly related individuals which is quite common on nests of R. marginata due to the presence of serial polygyny. About 7 such wasps were introduced per colony and the introductions were so arranged as to matched with natural eclosions on the recipient nest. After 7 days following the last introduction, colonies were observed for 20 hours each. Alien wasps became well integrated and performed most of the behaviours and tasks shown by the natal wasps. There was no evidence of kin recognition or task specialization between natal and introduced wasps. The introduced wasps also sometimes became replacement queens. In an attempt to test the costs in terms of brood rearing efficiency, of living in such genetically variable groups, I created kin and non-kin pairs of wasps in plastic containers. They were provided with ad libitum food, water and building material. The nests initiated were monitored till an adult offspring eclosed. There were no detectable differences in either the productivities or the developmental periods of immature stages in the kin and nonkin pairs suggesting that there is no apparent cost of living with unrelated or distantly related individuals. To compare the extent of cooperation between the two wasps in kin and non-kin pairs, I conducted behavioural observations on 12 pairs each of kin and nonkin wasps. I found no difference in the rates at which the non-egg layers brought food and pulp, fed larvae and built the nest in the kin and nonkin pairs suggesting that cooperative nest building and brood rearing was common to the kin as well as non-kin pairs. The results reported here strengthen the idea that factors other than genetic relatedness must play a prominent role in the maintenance of worker behaviour in Ropalidia marginata.

D. Tech. Chemistry. / Discusses the extent of mango cultivar susceptibility to gall fly infestation can be predicted by the composition of secondary metabolites produced by the tree.

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.