Honeydew of Aethalion reticulatum (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) as a food resource for social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in an urban area within the Atlantic Forest-Cerrado ecotone

Abstract

Aethalion reticulatum frequently forms symbiotic interactions with hymenopteran insects, however, there is little information involving social wasps. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide ecological and ethological information regarding the use of honeydew produced by A. reticulatum as a food resource for different species of social wasps in an urban environment, in an ecotonal region between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. During the study, 54 individuals of 10 species of social wasps were recorded consuming honeydew produced by A. reticulatum. It is likely that generalizing and standardizing classifications of interactions between social wasp-hemipteran will not be possible. Nevertheless, our study provides important information: first, different species of Polistinae can simultaneously use honeydew produced by A. reticulatum as a food source in urban environments, and second, it contributes ethological information, with newly behavioral acts, regarding the use and competition for this food resource among social wasps.