New records and knowledge about the distribution of Eumeninae and Zethinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in protected areas of the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil.

Abstract

Eumeninae and Zethinae are currently treated as subfamilies within the Vespidae and, despite providing several ecosystem services, they are poorly sampled in Brazilian biomes, such as the Atlantic Forest. The Atlantic Forest is a global biodiversity hotspot that has historically faced various anthropogenic pressures, leading to the loss of 87% of its native vegetation cover. This condition underscores the need for studies on the occurrence and distribution of biota in this biome. The present study aimed at surveying these taxa in different protected areas of Atlantic Forest domain, in the State of Paraná, southern Brazil. Field work was carried out at Parque Nacional Ilha Grande, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu and Refúgio Biológico Bela Vista, between 2019 and 2022. A total of 16 species of Eumeninae and two of Zethinae were registered, of which 44% are considered new records for Paraná. The large number of new records is a direct result of the lack of information about these taxa in the State. Considering the current trend of accelerated biome loss in Brazil, especially concerning the Atlantic Forest, studies focusing on the knowledge of local and regional faunas are urgent, in wasps of the Vespidae family.