Insect galls on Myrtaceae: richness and distribution in brazilian restingas

Abstract

Inventories in Brazilian restingas have been indicating that Myrtaceae are the plant family with the greatest richness of insect galls. A compilation of published data plus new records was elaborated with the aim of stablishing the number of gall morphotypes on this family in this physiognomy of the Atlantic Forest, producing a list of galled species, pointing out the predominant gall features, evaluating the taxonomical knowledge of the gallers, listing the associated fauna, and based on host plant endemisms and monophagy proposing the endemism of some galling species. Myrtaceae harbor 111 morphotypes of insect gall (about 75% induced by Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) on 25 host plant species, 15 endemic. Eugenia L. highlights as the plant genus with the highest number of galled species and gall richness. Leaves are the most galled organ. There is a predominance of globoid and fusiform shapes, green color, glabrous surface and a single internal chamber. The taxonomical data on gallers is deficient as many records have been presented at supraspecific levels. The associated fauna is rich and includes parasitoids, inquilines and predators. Twelve species of Cecidomyiidae, a single species of Curculionidae (Coleoptera) and one species of Eriococcidae (Hemiptera) have been associated exclusively with endemic hosts and then are proposed in the present study as endemic too. The geographical distribution of many galls and respective gallers are restricted to the State of Rio de Janeiro, where most inventories have been carried out. For the first time, Eugeniamyia dispar, previously known from a rural area of Rio Grande do Sul and restinga areas of São Paulo, is recorded in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

FLORISTÍCA EM ÁREAS DE OCORRÊNCIAS DE AÇAIZEIROS (*Euterpe precatoria Mart.) NO MUNICÍPIO DE RORAINÓPOLIS - RR

“…A família Myrtaceae configura-se como uma das mais importantes no cenário da biodiversidade brasileira, como também nas formações vegetais de diferentes biomas nos neotrópicos, especialmente em formações florestais (GRESSLER; PIZO; MORELLATO, 2006;MAIA, 2019).…”

“…Hospedam cerca de 111 morfotipos de galhas de insetos, em 25 espécies distintas, sendo que 15 destas são endêmicas e tais são encontrados predominantemente nas folhas. A fauna que está associada abrange tanto organismos parasitoides, inquilinos quanto predadores (MAIA, 2019).…”

DIAGNOSE ANATÔMICA E HISTOQUÍMICA DE Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) O. KUNTZE

“…A família Myrtaceae configura-se como uma das mais importantes no cenário da biodiversidade brasileira, como também nas formações vegetais de diferentes biomas nos neotrópicos, especialmente em formações florestais (GRESSLER; PIZO; MORELLATO, 2006;MAIA, 2019).…”

Diversity, trophic associations, distribution, and evolutionary features of inquiline gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae)

“…Об обилии и разнообразии галлов на древесных растениях широко известно, особенно в Неотропической области, где было выявлено очень много инквилинов, в том числе и галлиц, но таксономический состав их ещё не изучен [Maia, , 2019. В результате анализа 112 комплексов насекомых, рассмотренных на примере галлов Европы и Северной Америки, было установлено, что галлы на деревьях поддерживают самые богатые сообщества инквилинов, особенно отр.…”

“…В настоящее время хорошо изучены галлицы-инквилины в Европе, как и фауна галлиц этого региона в целом. Галлицы-инквилины наиболее часто встречаются в зоне умеренного климата в Европе [Ellis, 2020], обычны в аридных местообитаниях Казахстана, где выявлены преимущественно на Chenopodiaceae и Asteraceae [Федотова, 2000], и чрезвычайно обильны и разнообразны, но слабо изучены в тропических лесах Южной Америки Gagné, Jaschhof, 2021;Maia, , 2019. Роль инквилинов в жизни хозяина галла почти не изучена.…”