Contribution to studies of Vespidae occurring in Rio Grande do Sul state (Insecta, Hymenoptera)

Abstract

Vespidae is composed by seven subfamilies; three only happen in Brazil: Eumeninae, Masarinae and Polistinae. This work aimed to increase the knowledge on the fauna of Vespidae, presenting a checklist of the species and the distribution of these in the Rio Grande do Sul State. Data were obtained through a review of the species in entomological collections, museums and literature. 133 species were registered, representing 22% of the fauna of this family in Brazil. Eumeninae presented the highest species richness with 82, followed by Polistinae with 49 and Masarinae with only two species. Furthermore, 19 new occurrence registrations are presented of which 17 species belong to Eumeninae and two of Polistinae.