Insect galls of Itamonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil): characterization and occurrence

Abstract

Three sites of Itamonte (Minas Gerais) were investigated for insect galls from September, 2011 to July, 2012, seasonally. One-hundred and one morphotypes of insect galls were recorded on 63 species of host plant (45 genera and 23 families). Melastomataceae was the most galled plant family, followed by Asteraceae and Myrtaceae. Galls were recorded on leaves, stems, buds, and aerial roots. Leaves were the most galled plant organ. The gall morphotypes were characterized according to their shape, color, pubescence, and number of internal chambers. Globose and fusiform galls were the most frequent. The majority was glabrous and one-chambered. The gallers comprised three insect orders: Diptera (Cecidomyiidae and Tephritidae), Hemiptera, and Lepidoptera. Cecidomyiidae were the most frequent galling taxa. Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) were obtained from six morphotypes (ca. 6% of the total). The results are compared to those of other Brazilian insect gall inventories. As there is no previous gall inventory in Itamonte, all records presented here are new.

Insect galls on Myrtaceae: richness and distribution in brazilian restingas

“…(Table 1). In other physiognomies of the Atlantic Forest, these rates were lower, 0.00% in Semidecidual Seasonal Forest (Flor et al 2018) and Altitude Fields (Coelho et al 2013), from 6.40% to 10.89% in Ombrophilous Forest (Maia 2014and Maia & Mascarenhas 2017, 8.86% in High Altitude Wetland Forest (Santos et al 2011), and 9.09% in Tableland Forest (Maia & Carvalho-Fernandes 2015). These data revealed that Myrtaceae are an important host plant family mainly in restingas, while in other physiognomies of the Atlantic Forest this family can contribute to the gall richness as in the Ombrophilous Forest, High Altitude Wetland Forest and Tableland Forest or not as in Semidecidual Seasonal Forest and Altitude Fields.…”

“…In Brazilian restingas, Myrtaceae included from 18.18% to 11.38% of the total number of galled plant species (Table 1). In other physiognomies of the Atlantic Forest, the rates were lower, 0.00% in Semidecidual Seasonal Forest (Flor et al 2018) and Altitude Fields (Coelho et al 2013), from 3.86% to 11.11% in Ombrophilous Forest (Maia 2014and Maia & Mascarenhas 2017), 8.16% in High Altitude Wetland Forest (Santos et al 2011, and 9.75% in Tableland Forest (Maia & Carvalho-Fernandes 2015). Furthermore, Myrtaceae were not the plant family with the greatest number of galled species in these physiognomies.…”

Representativity of the genus Asphondylia Loew, 1850 (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) in Brazil

“…Literature data were compiled from six papers retrieved from the Web of Science (Carneiro et al, 2009a;Maia, 2013a;Maia et al, 2008b;Maia & Fernandes, 2005;Gagné et al, 2001), 51 Brazilian gall inventories (Almada & Fernandes, 2011;Araújo et al, 2011;Araújo et al, 2014;Bregonci et al, 2010;Carneiro et al, 2009b;Coelho et al, 2009;Coelho et al, 2013a;Coelho et al, 2013b;Costa et al, 2014;Dreger-Jauffret & Shorthouse, 1992;Fernandes & Negreiros, 2006;Fernandes et al, 1988;Fernandes et al, 1997;Fernandes et al, 2001;Gagné et al, 2001;Gagné, 1994;Gagné, 2004;Gonçalves-Alvim & Fernandes, 2001;Julião et al, 2002;Maia & Carvalho, 2016;Maia & Fernandes, 2004;Maia & Fernandes, 2005;Maia & Oliveira, 2010;Maia & Souza, 2013;Maia et al, 1992;Maia et al, 2008a;Maia et al, 2014;Maia, 2001;Maia, 2004;Maia, 2011;Maia, 2013b;Maia, 2014;Mendonça et al, 2014;Oliveira & Maia, 2005;<...>…”

Insect galls of the Floresta da Cicuta (Volta Redonda, RJ, Brazil)

“…Previous records: Galls on Vernonia spp. were recorded in Rio Grande do Sul state (Mendonça et al, 2014), Bertioga (SP) (Maia et al, 2008), Carapebus and Jurubatiba (RJ) (Monteiro et al, 2004), Belo Horizonte (MG) , Santa Teresa, (ES) , Serra de São José (MG) (Maia & Fernandes, 2004), Tiradentes (MG) (Maia, 2014), Vale do Jequitinhonha (MG) (Fernandes et al, 1997b).…”