Insect galls in three species of Copaifera L. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) occurring sympatrically in a Cerrado area (Bahia, Brazil)

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this study was to characterize galls of three species of the Copaifera genus (C. sabulicola, C. luetzelburgii and C. depilis), which occur sympatrically in a Cerrado area from Bahia state. A total of 23 gall morphotypes were found, 9 morphotypes on C. sabulicola, 7 on C. luetzelburgii and 7 on C. depilis. Galls predominated on leaves and stems. The most abundant colours found among galls were brown and green. Regarding the period of the year, from 35,511 leaflets analysed, 16,322 were collected in the dry season and 19,189 in the rainy season. In the dry season, 1,635 leaflets having galls were observed, and the highest proportion was observed on C. luetzelburgii (16.31%). In relation to the rainy season, there is statistical difference in the incidence of leaflets with galls between C. sabulicola and C. depilis, these two species are affected differently during the rainy season. In general, most of the gall morphotypes were more abundant in the dry season. The gallers of 18 morphotypes cannot be determined, because the gall samples were collected occupied by parasitoids or without dwellers. Cecidomyiids induced galls in five morphotypes. Associated invertebrates belonging to the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Acari were found among all gall morphotypes. The results obtained here indicate that the three species of Copaifera have an expressive number of galls, but lower than reported in the literature for C. langsdorffii, which is considered a super host. Keywords

Are Fabaceae the principal super-hosts of galls in Brazil?

“…Micro-hymenoptera are the principal parasites of gall-inducing insects, and can be responsible for their mortality (Maia et al 2008). According to Stone et al (2002), approximately 115,000 species of Hymenoptera are found throughout the world, and they have been recorded in the galls of various species of Fabaceae (e.g., Andira paniculata Benth., Copaifera sabulicola, Copaifera luetzelburgii Harms, Copaifera depilis Dwyer) (Santos et al 2018).…”

Diversity of gall-inducing insect associated with a superhost plant species: Plant architecture, resource availability and interspecific interactions

“…In fact, these three gall-inducing species represented 86% and 85% of the total number of gall-inducing insects sampled from tree and shrub, respectively. Recent studies indicate that some species of the genus Copaifera harboring a high diversity of gallinducing insects (Costa et al 2016;Fagundes et al 2018;Santos et al 2018;Coutinho et al 2019). Historical/evolutionary aspects of the host plant species such as family or genus size (Kuchenbecker and Fagundes 2018), geographic distribution, and center of origin of the species (Fleck and Fonseca 2007;Fagundes and Fernandes 2011) have been used to explain the high diversity of herbivorous insects associated with a host plant species.…”

“…The genus Copaifera belongs to one of the largest botanical families (Souza and Lorenzi 2005) and is composed of 72 species distributed throughout the Americas and West Africa (Dwyer 1951). C. langsdorffii is distributed throughout Latin America, occurring in sympatry with other species of the genus Copaifera (Santos et al 2018;Coutinho et al 2019). Similarities in the chemical constitution of phylogenetically close plants allow host selection failures during oviposition process and gallinducing insect radiation among different hosts species (Mopper 2005;Johansson et al 2015).…”

Mini review of parasitoids collected in the Cerrado Biome in Brazil

“…This municipality is located in the Cerrado Biome and presents two well defined seasons, a dry and rainy. The collections were carried out from December 2012 to January 2013 (Santos et al 2018).…”

“…Microhimenopterans identified represents possibly parasitoids, natural enemy of Cecidomyiidae (Hymenoptera, except for ants (Formicidae, predator), which were found on abandoned galls, being considered in this study as a successor for Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Fabaceae), Oliveira et al (2013) pointed that the level of (Santos et al 2018).…”