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Social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), due to their predatory and generalist behavior, can provide different ecosystem services, such as trophic regulation and biological control of different agricultural pests (Prezoto et al., 2019; Brock et al., 2021). Lepidoptera larvae are prey frequently present in the diet of different species of social wasps, including those of the genus Polybia Lepeletier 1836 (Vespidae: Polistinae) (Gobbi et al., 1984; Gobbi & Machado 1985a,b; Machado et al., 1988; Prezoto et al., 2005; Bichara-Filho et al., 2009; Picanço et al., 2010; López et al., 2013; Dejean et al., 2017; Brügger et al., 2019; Oliveira et al., 2023; Oliveira & Souza, 2023).
This genus is distributed throughout the Neotropical region, with 59 species, 51 of which are found in Brazilian territory (Somavilla et al., 2021). Although there is information regarding the diet of the genus, data for some species remain scarce, even for those with a wide geographic distribution in Brazil (Somavilla et al., 2021), recorded in different biomes (Souza et al., 2020a,b), such as Polybia jurinei de Saussure 1854. This highlights the importance of studies that contribute to the understanding of the ethology and diet of these insects.
Therefore, the present study aimed to record the predation of a caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) by P. jurinei on a ruderal plant, Crepis japonica (L.) DC. (Asteraceae), in the southern region of the state of Minas Gerais, Southeast Brazil.
The observation was made occasionally on November 2, 2024, around 10:00 AM, at the teaching farm of the Federal Institute of Southern Minas Gerais (IFSULDEMINAS), Inconfidentes Campus, in the municipality of Inconfidentes, located in the southern region of Minas Gerais. The observations took place in a human-altered area with buildings, plantations, and pig farming, adjacent to a fragment of semideciduous forest within the Atlantic Forest domain.
The predatory act was observed in two sessions of approximately 15 minutes each, using the ad libitum method (Del Claro, 2010), totaling 30 minutes of observation. Following this, the individuals were collected using an entomological net. The specimens were preserved in 70% alcohol and later prepared and dry-mounted in the zoology laboratory. The identification of the social wasp was carried out using the dichotomous keys of Richards (1978) and by comparison with the collection of the Biological Collection of Social Wasps (CBVS). The Lepidoptera specimen was identified through a photograph sent to MSc. Lucas Vieira from ESALQ, Piracicaba. Due to the physical condition of the prey, it was only possible to identify it at the family level.
At first, an individual of P. jurinei was spotted flying over the C. japonica plant, carrying fragments of a prey in its mandibles, probably heading toward its nest. After about 2 minutes, an individual of P. jurinei returned to the plant and landed on the abaxial surface of the C. japonica leaf, where the caterpillar was located, and began removing more portions of the prey's body, which was still alive (Figure 1). Then, P. jurinei took flight with a fragment of the caterpillar, at which point it was captured using an entomological net. No other individuals were observed preying on the caterpillar until the end of the observations.
Figure 1. Predation of Polybia jurinei on a Saturniidae caterpillar on a Crepis japonica plant in Southern Minas Gerais, Southeast Brazil. Sequence of prey manipulation. Source: the authors, 2025.
The observed behavior is typical of social wasps that hunt relatively large prey, which is cut into small fragments and transported to their colonies for the feeding of the offspring, as is often the case with Lepidoptera larvae (Brown et al., 2012; Dejean et al., 2017). However, it differs from some situations, such as when smaller adult insects are preyed upon, where the social wasp consumes the prey on-site (Oliveira and Souza, 2023), or larger adults, in which non-palatable appendages, e.g. locomotory parts and the head, are removed, and only the abdomen is mashed and transported (Crispim et al., 2023).
Caterpillars of the Saturniidae family can cause damage to various forest species, such as eucalyptus (Zanuncio, 1993) and rubber trees (Santos & Gonçalves, 2005). Their natural predators include birds and stink bugs (Favalesso et al., 2020), as well as social wasps (Prezoto et al., 2006; Bichara-Filho et al., 2009). Therefore, P. jurinei is a potential predator of these pests, although this still needs further investigation. On the other hand, since C. japonica is an exotic plant (Lorenzi, 2000), in this specific case, P. jurinei appears to be performing a role opposite to those typically played by social wasps, by hunting the natural predator of a species that does not belong to the Brazilian flora. The success of the establishment of exotic species is, among other factors, due to the absence of natural predators (Lake & Leishman, 2004; Parker & Gilbert, 2007; Rankin, 2021).
There is little information about the diet of P. jurinei, but it is known that this species preys on blowfly larvae (Gomes et al., 2009) in addition to feeding on plant-based materials, such as fruit pulp (e.g., mango and guava) (Barbosa et al., 2014; Renne et al., 2024) and pollen (Crestana, 1995). Therefore, due to its diverse diet, P. jurinei seems to behave as a generalist and opportunist in its search for food resources, much like other congeners (Michelutti et al., 2017).
Although this study provides one of the few records of P. jurinei predating Lepidoptera larvae, such prey is frequently found in the diet of wasps from this genus, such as Polybia emaciata Lucas 1879 (López et al., 2013), Polybia fastidiosuscula de Saussure 1854 (Brügger et al., 2019; Oliveira & Souza, 2023), Polybia ignobilis (Haliday) 1836 (Gobbi & Machado, 1985b; Picanço et al., 2010; Oliveira & Souza, 2023), Polybia occidentalis (Olivier) 1792 (Gobbi et al., 1984), Polybia paulista H. von Ihering 1896 (Gobbi & Machado, 1985a), Polybia platycephalaRichards 1978 (Prezoto et al., 2005), Polybia rejecta (Fabricius) 1798 (Dejean et al., 2017), Polybia scutellaris (White) 1841 (Oliveira et al., 2023), and Polybia sericea (Olivier) 1792 (Machado et al., 1988; Bichara-Filho et al., 2009).
In conclusion, this study adds information about the predatory behavior of a social wasp species with a little-known diet. Future studies may indicate the frequency of Lepidoptera larvae in the diet of P. jurinei, as well as the feasibility of using this social wasp in biological control programs in crops where these pests are a problem.
