Taxonomic study of family Vespidae Fauna in Gujranwala District, Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
Wasps under family Vespidae, order Hymenoptera are commonly known as paper wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and potter wasps. They are cosmopolitan in distribution, playing role of major predators of insect pest larvae and many spiders. The aim of the research was to explore wasp fauna and their relative abundance in district Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan. During this study a total of 10 species of wasps belonging to family Vespidae were identified under three subfamilies (Vespinae, Polistinae, Eumeninae). Among these Vespinae represents three specie Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, 1771, body length 1.5-2.5cm; Vespa tropica Linnaeus, 1758, body length 1.8-2.5 cm; and Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836. While subfamily Eumeninae was represented by Delta dimidiatipenne De Saussure, 1852, body 2.3-2.6cm and Delta esuriens Fabricus, 1787, body 1.5-1.7cm in length. The subfamily Polistinae was represented by Polistes wattii Cameron, 1900, body 1.7-1.9 cm; Polistes olivaceus De Geer, 1773, body 1.9-2.1 cm, Polistes rothneyi Carletoni Vander Vecht, 1968, body 1.5-1.9 cm and Polistes indicus Stolfa, 1934 body 1.5-1.6 cm in length, and Ropalidia (Anthreneida) brevita Das & Gupta, 1989. The data analysis showed members of subfamily Polistinae and Vespinae to be more abundant while that of subfamily Eumeninae are solitary in nature. But the way, wasps are always considered t to play pivotal role of predators of a wide range of arthropods in an ecosystem. So the currently studied fauna of Gujranwala of family vespidae may serve as biological pest controllers for the crops and cultivation of this region parallel to its ecological value in control of natural arthropod populations in near future as replacements of harmful pesticides.
Keywords: Diversity; Gujranwala; Paper Wasps; Social Wasps; Vespidae
