CHALCIDIDAE (HYMENOPTERA) ASSOCIATED WITH A SEMIARID REGION IN BAHIA, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Chalcididae is a family of parasitoids with wide distribution and great richness, with almost 1,500 described species. Its diversity might be greater than that known today, mainly due to the few existing studies and its taxonomic complexity. Studies in semiarid regions are scarce and necessary to contribute to the biogeographic knowledge of the neotropical fauna. Therefore, the objective of this work was to record Chalcididae species that occur in the municipality of Barra do Choça, in the Semiarid region of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Five Malaise traps were distributed in two areas with native vegetation and an area with eucalyptus plantation, which were monitored monthly for two consecutive years. The insects were sorted and specimens of the family Chalcididae were identified at the species level, when possible. A total of 182 specimens from five genera (Aspirrhina Kyrbi, 1883; Brachymeria Westwood, 1829; Conura Spinola, 1837; Dirhinus Dalman, 1818, and Haltichella Spinola, 1811), and 18 species were identified and 32 were morphotyped. The genus Conura was the most abundant and the most diverse, with 12 species identified and 30 potential new species. The native vegetation presented higher abundance and higher taxonomic wealth, mainly in the area at initial stage of succession (capoeira). The eucalyptus area presented low diversity, with predominance of Brachymeria species. The species C. nigricornis presented the highest relative frequency. This study constitutes the first list of Chalcididae species in the Semiarid region of Brazil. The sampling carried out in the state Bahia showed an important diversity of Chalcididae species when compared to other regions of Brazil.