Abstract

FIGUEROA, José Isaac et al. Diversity of Blacus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Blacinae) species in two forest ecosystems of Michoacán, Mexico. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2021, vol.37, e3712316.  Epub Sep 27, 2021. ISSN 2448-8445.  https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2021.3712316.

In this study, the diversity of wasps of the Blacus Nees (Braconidae, Blacinae) genus were estimated in two forest ecosystems in the northeastern part of Michoacán, in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt: Cerro de Garnica National Park (C-Garnica NP) and Los Azufres Protected Forest Area (Los Azufres PFA). A vegetation cover map based on satellite images of these forest ecosystems was prepared. The specimens collecting was performed monthly from March 2008 until February 2010 with the help of yellow pan traps. A total of 172 specimens of 17 species of the genus Blacus were collected, of which 84.3% were from C-Garnica NP (13 species) and 15.7% from Los Azufres PFA (10 species). Percentage of similarity (Jaccard´s index = 0.35) was relatively low, indicating a different composition between both forest ecosystems. Significantly more specimens were monthly captured in C-Garnica NP than in Los Azufres PFA (12.1 ± 4.0 vs 2.3 ± 1.20). According to the Shannon-Wiener index, the diversity was similar in both studied areas (2.1 vs 1.9). Chao 2 and Jackknife 2 estimators indicated that ~60% of the expected species were captured in both areas. One concludes that C-Garnica NP and Los Azufres PFA maintain a high species diversity of Blacus. The greatest abundance, as well as the greatest species richness were found in the C-Garnica NP, which is an area with a higher degree of disturbance.

Keywords : Protected forest areas; parasitoid wasps; bioindicators; disturbances; pan traps; vegetation cover.

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