Spatio-temporal variation in the diversity of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in the tropical dry forest of the Colombian Caribbean

ABSTRACT The temporal variation in the diversity of Polistinae was analyzed in three fragments of tropical dry forest (TDF) in the Colombian Caribbean (Reserva Campesina la Montaña = RCM, Reserva La Flecha = RCF and Finca La Clarita = FLC). Three transects, each measuring 250 × 20 m and spaced 200 m apart, were established per site. Within each transect, six collection points were marked, each separated by 50 m. The social wasps were captured using baited traps and entomological nets. A total of 2274 wasps were collected across the three TDF fragments, identified into 11 genera and 24 species. The most diverse genus was Polybia, followed by Polistes and Agelaia. The highest species richness among fragments was recorded at RLF (22), while the lowest was at RCM and FLC (10). Seasonally, RLF exhibited the highest richness (17) during the rainy season, whereas the lowest richness was observed at RCM during the dry season (5). According to diversity profiles, the highest value of the effective number of species (0D) was recorded at RLF during the rainy season (15), and the lowest (2) during the dry season at RCM. This same pattern was observed for the other two orders of diversity (1D and 2D). In terms of beta diversity, a high dissimilarity was observed among the three locations, driven by both nesting and species turnover, while from a temporal perspective (dry-rainy seasons), species turnover was predominant. The diversity variation of the social wasps is associated with changes in humidity due to the onset of the rainy season, demonstrating that seasonal changes in these variables within TDF fragments are crucial in the dynamics of social wasp communities.