Himenópteros associados a Solanum gilo raddi (Solanaceae)

Abstract

The Hymenoptera fauna associated to Solanum gilo was studied. There were 21 species of Hymenoptera from eight families. It was observed Homalotylus flaminus (Dalman, 1820) (Encyrtidae) parasiting the adults of Cycloneda sanguinea Linnaeus, 1763 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) and Chalcididae parasiting caterpillars of Mechanitis pofymnia casabranca Haensch, 1905 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Ithomiinae, Sthomiinae). Vespidae were observed preying both M. pofymnia casabranca and Diabrotica speciosa Germar, 1824 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) adults. Halictidae, Andrenidae and Anthophoridae, were observed visiting flowers and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Apidae) attacking fruits and stem ápices. The most abundant Hymenoptera were Formicidae; Cremalogaster sp. and Camponotus rufipes (Fabricus, 1775) were observed in protocooperation relation with Homoptera, the main cause of plant mortality was Solenopsis saevissima (Smith, 1855). Higher population density of Formicidae occurred on the final phase of cultivation, when there were high insolation and temperature and low pluvial precipitations.