Biodiversity within the subfamily Alyssinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Natural Park Penas de Aya (Spain)

The study of parasitoid Hymenoptera is of significance for the assessment of diversity in a given area because of their role in the regulation of insects populations. The present work analyses diversity within Alysiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Forested Estate of Artikutza, located in the Natural Park Penas de Aya, western Pyrenees, Spain. Collection of specimens was spread over two years and was carried out in two different habitats: mixed forest and beech forest. A total of 2,270 specimens, belonging to 22 separate genera, were captured. Subsequently, alpha, beta and gamma diversities were analysed, and the beech forest was proven to host greater diversity than the mixed forest. A sampling strategy was adopted for the analysis of Alysiinae phenology and its relationship with environmental climatic conditions; as a result, a direct relationship between phenology and temperature was attested.Original Abstract: O estudo dos himenopteros parasitoides e significativo para uma avaliacao da diversidade em determinada area por causa do seu papel no controle das populacoes de insetos. O presente trabalho analisa a diversidade no taxon Alysiinae (Himenoptero, Braconidae) na area de floresta de Artikutza, localizada no Parque Natural de Penas de Aya, Pirineus ocidentais, Espanha. A coleta de especimes dividiu-se em dois anos e foi realizada em dois habitats diferentes: floresta mista e floresta de faias. No total, foram capturados 2.270 exemplares pertencentes a 22 generos distintos. Subsequentemente, as variedades alfa, beta e gama foram analisadas, comprovando-se que a floresta de faias apresenta uma diversidade maior que a floresta mista. Adotou-se a estrategia de amostra para analise da fenologia da Alysiinae e da sua relacao com as condicoes climaticas ambientais, de onde se concluiu que existe uma relacao direta entre a fenologia e a temperatura.