Insetos indutores de galhas da porção sul da Cadeia do Espinhaço, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Gall-inducing insects of an Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil

“…Only a few studies report more galls on stems (African savanna; Veldtman & McGeoch 2003) or stems and buds (rupestrian fields; Carneiro et al 2009b). Interestingly, these studies were performed on areas geographically related to the Araucaria forest, either in terms of altitude (Carneiro et al 2009b) or southern location (Veldtman & McGeoch 2003). However, their explanations, despite being valuable, did not account for this Continues Gall-inducing insects of Araucaria Forest geographic trend and its ecological and evolutionary implications, which we consider worthy of further studies.…”

“…This trend is uncommon for insect galls, which are usually reported to occur predominantly on leaves (DregerJauffret & Shorthouse 1992; Fernandes et al 1988;Maia & Fernandes 2004;Moreira et al 2007;Maia et al 2008). Only a few studies report more galls on stems (African savanna; Veldtman & McGeoch 2003) or stems and buds (rupestrian fields; Carneiro et al 2009b). Interestingly, these studies were performed on areas geographically related to the Araucaria forest, either in terms of altitude (Carneiro et al 2009b) or southern location (Veldtman & McGeoch 2003).…”

“…However, due to the concentration of taxonomists and research groups, most surveys were conducted at sites in southeastern Brazil, including areas under cerrado (e.g., Fernandes et al 1988;Gonçalves-Alvim & Fernandes 2001;UrsoGuimaraes & Scarelli-Santos 2006), Atlantic forest (e.g., Fernandes et al 2001;Moreira et al 2007) and specific ecosystems within these biomes (e.g., rupestrian fields, Maia & Fernandes 2004;Carneiro et al 2009b, andrestinga, Oliveira &Maia 2005;Maia et al 2008).…”

Senescent stem-galls in trees of Eremanthus erythropappus as a resource for arboreal ants

“…In the Espinhaço and Mantiqueira mountains, E. erythropappus trees and their galls are found along altitudinal quotas lower down on the cerrado sensu stricto and continuing upwards to reach higher altitudes, occupying rocky outcrops and degraded areas of rupestrian fields (Carneiro et al 2009;Coelho et al 2013). Senescent galls can therefore represent an important -and even decisive -factor affecting the local species-mosaic of arboreal ants.…”

“…It is also a source of the essential oil ␣-bisabolol, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antimycotic properties, and is often harvested for dermatological use (Pedralli et al 2000). So far, scientists have identified seven different morphotypes of insect-induced leaf-and stem-galls occurring in E. erythropappus trees (Maia & Fernandes 2004;Carneiro et al 2009). …”