Occurrence and characterization of entomogen galls in plants from natural vegetation areas in Delfinópolis, MG, Brazil

Abstract

In the present work we aimed to register the occurrence of galls, inductors, inquilines, and parasitoids in plants of three natural vegetation areas in Delfinópolis, MG, Brazil. Results obtained showed 22 types of galls collected from leaf, vein leaf, petioles, stem, and inflorescence of nineteen species belonging to fifteen distinct families. Concerning gall morphology, the following were collected: globoid, conicle, discoidal, fusiform, shell-shape, indefinite, and one substituition of an ovary by an immature. As principal inducers were found insects of the families Cecidomyiidae (Diptera), Psyllidae, and Diaspididae (Sternorrhyncha/Hemiptera). As parasitoids the most common are of the Chalcidoidea superfamily (Hymenoptera) and, as occasional inquilines, Polyxenidae (Diplopoda) and Psocodea (Psocoptera). The results of this study contribute to existing of knowledge host-plant diversity and gall-associated insects in rocky fields, cerrado, and gallery forests.

Characterization of galls, insect galls and associated fauna of Ecological Station of Jataí (Luiz Antônio, SP)

“…The fact that 75% of the galls have been found in leaves, corroborate the pattern found in studies in Brazil, that indicates the leaf as organ most commonly attacked by gall makers (Maia et al 2008, Maia 2001, Urso-Guimarães et al 2003, Fernandes & Negreiros 2006 and with the world pattern found by Mani (1964). This pattern of occurrence in the leaves happens because the leaves are abundant resources and constant (Maia 2001), besides having a continuous flow of nutrients needed for the maintenance of photosynthesis (Whitham 1978).…”

“…These data reinforce Urso-Guimarães et al (2003) whose found parasitic Hymenoptera in all galls with trichomes of their study, not sharing the hypothesis of Fernandes & Price (1988) who attribute the presence of trichomes protection against parasitoids.…”

“…were found in the color green and also brown (Figure 9). Urso-Guimarães & Scarelli- Santos (2003) found three morphotypes those had different colors and also indicated those this change was related to the maturation time of the galls. These data indicates that the use of color as a characteristic to identify galls should be used with caution because galls will change color according to the maturation stage and this should be analyzed in the characterizations of galls.…”

“…The Hymenoptera parasitoids found are of the families Eurytomidae, Torymidae and Eulophidae, within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, which are known parasitoids wasp of Cecidomyiidae galls (Urso-Guimarães et al 2003).…”

“…The characterization of galls was done using a synthesis of the nomenclatures presented in works in the area as Möhn (1961), Maia (2001), Urso-Guimarães et al (2003), Urso-Guimarães & Scarelli- Santos (2006) and review of the specificity of galls made by Carneiro et al (2009). Galls that were not found galling species the identification where made by similarity to several studies …”