Abstract In Brazil, there is little information about social wasp communities in Altitude Fields (Campos de Altitude), a phytophysiognomy of the Atlantic Forest with a high rate of endemism, which is being altered and reduced in area by human activities, such as the cultivation of Eucalyptus spp. Therefore, the present study aimed to inventory the species of Polistinae (Vespidae) presente in an Altitude Field associated with Eucalyptus sp. plantations in the municipality of Poços de Caldas, Southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted in Morro do Ferro, central region of the Poços de Caldas Plateau, from 2020 to 2021, using active search and Malaise traps. Thirteen species of social wasps were recorded, which have a wide geographic distribution, and explore anthropic environments, such as agricultural areas, pasture and Eucalyptus sp. plantations. Many of them behave as synanthropic, suggesting this altitude field to be a degraded area in Poços Caldas, MG. However, further studies must be carried out in the region, in order to know and preserve these remaining ecosystems.

Resumen En Brasil, hay poca información sobre las comunidades de avispas sociales presentes en los Campos de Altitud, una fitofisonomía de la Mata Atlántica con un alto grado de endemismo, área que está siendo alterada y reducida por las actividades humanas, como es el cultivo de Eucalyptus spp. Por lo tanto, el presente estudio tuvo como objetivo inventariar las especies de Polistinae (Vespidae) asociadas a plantaciones de Eucalyptus sp. en los Campos de Altitud situados en el municipio de Poços de Caldas, sur de Minas Gerais, Brasil. El estudio se realizó en Morro do Ferro, región central de la meseta de Poços de Caldas, entre 2020 y 2021, utilizando búsqueda activa y trampas Malaise. Se registraron trece especies de avispas sociales que tienen una amplia distribución geográfica, explorando ambientes antrópicos como áreas agrícolas, pastizales y plantaciones de Eucalyptus sp. Muchas de ellas se comportan como sinantrópicas, lo que sugiere que este Campo de Altitud es un área degradada en el municipio de Poços de Caldas, MG. Sin embargo, se deben realizar más estudios en la región para conocer y preservar estos ecosistemas remanentes.

Abstract The Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, northern Minas Gerais, is located in the Cerrado, a global hotspot, and the literature lacks information about its communities of social wasps, insects that perform numerous services for the functioning of ecosystems. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct an inventory of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in the Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, and compare its richness and composition with three other fully protected conservation units in northern Minas Gerais and Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais. A total of 41 species of 14 genera of social wasps were recorded, including a new occurrence in the state: Mischocyttarus campestris Raw, 1985. The presence of distinct social wasp communities in the Cerrado and Caatinga conservation units analyzed in this study, reinforces and justifies the creation of these fully protected areas, which ensure the conservation of this biological heritage and the environmental services provided by these taxa, besides providing subsidies for the management and sustainable use of the natural resources of these conservation units.

Resumen O Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, norte de Minas Gerais, inserido no Cerrado, hotspot mundial, carece de informações sobre a comunidade de vespas sociais, insetos que desempenham inúmeros serviços para o funcionamento dos ecossistemas. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um inventário de vespas sociais (Vespidae: Polistinae) no Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, além de comparar sua riqueza e composição com à de outras três Unidades de Conservação de proteção integral no Norte e no Vale do Jequitinhonha no estado de Minas Gerais. Foram registradas 41 espécies de 14 gêneros de vespas sociais, com um novo registro de ocorrência para o estado, Mischocyttarus campestris Raw, 1985. A presença de comunidades distintas de vespas sociais nas Unidades de Conservação no Cerrado e Caatinga, analisadas no presente estudo, reforça e justifica a criação dessas áreas de proteção integral, que assegura a conservação desse patrimônio biológico, bem como os serviços ambientais prestados por esses táxons, além de fornecer subsídios para o manejo e uso sustentável dos recursos naturais dessas Unidades de Conservação.

Abstract Only 8% of the approximately 120 conservation units in Minas Gerais State collect information on the order Odonata, which motivated this study. We aimed to survey communities of this insect group in the Environmental Protection Area of the Machado River hydrographic basin, southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. For this purpose, 12 areas were sampled by active searching from September 2018 to March 2019. Representatives of 71 Odonata species belonging to 8 families were collected. Seven species were found exclusively in this conservation unit, and two species were newly recorded for the state, namely Erythrodiplax chromoptera (Borror, 1942) and Micrathyria venezuelae De Marmels, 1989. This study surveyed the fifth richest odonatofauna in Minas Gerais State, underscoring the importance of the studied area for conservation of Odonata communities and necessitating actions for decreasing environmental impacts on this biological patrimony.

Abstract Conservation Units are an important tool for the Brazilian biota protection. However, various taxa, including the social wasps, are undersampled or are unknown in these areas. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the social wasp richness and distribution in the Conservation Units in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. The social wasps were sampled between 2015 and 2019 in the Ritápolis National Forest (FLONA Ritápolis), in the Alto-Montana Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN Alto-Montana), in the Rio Machado Basin State Environmental Protection Area (APA Rio Machado) and in the Serra de São José Environmental Protection Area (APA Serra de São José), using two different sampling methodologies. Fourteen species were sampled for FLONA Ritápolis, 10 for RPPN Alto-Montana, 35 for APA Rio Machado and 19 for APA Serra de São José. Ninety-six social wasp species of the known richness in Minas Gerais were sampled in 14 Conservation Units, representing 90% of the fauna of the state. Thirty-four species are exclusive to these areas, with emphasis on the Rio Doce State Park, the Serra do Papagaio State Park, the Pandeiros River Wildlife Regufe and the APA Rio Machado. Most of the Conservation Units sampled are in the Atlantic Forest areas, but further efforts are needed in this biome, because of its accelerated destruction. There is still an urgent need for more studies in the Cerrado and Caatinga areas in the state, especially in Conservation Units.

Registra-se a nidificação associada entre a vespa social Polybia rejecta (Fabricius, 1798) e a formiga Azteca chartifex Forel, 1896 no Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais. Esta associação é observada neste bioma pela primeira vez. Observaram-se doze colônias de P. rejectafundadas ao lado de ninhos da A. chartifex . Cada colônia da vespa social foi fundada a uma distância em torno de 10 a 20 cm do ninho da formiga, não ocorrendo sobreposição das colônias. Os ninhos das vespas eram menores em relação a formiga, porém a coloração do invólucro protetor era semelhante, o que dificultava a diferenciação entre os ninho da vespa e da formiga.

Records to nesting between associated social wasp Polybia rejecta(Fabricius, 1798) and the ant Azteca chartifex Forel, 1896 in the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, are reported. This association is reported for the first time in this biome. Twelve colonies of P. rejecta founded close to nests of A. chartifex were observed. The wasp colonies were founded at a distance of about 10-20 cm from the ant nest and they did not overlap. The nests of wasps were smaller compared to ant, but the coloring was similar protective casing, making it difficult to differentiate between the wasp nest and the ant.