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

Galhas de insetos de Itamonte (Minas Gerais, Brasil): caracterização e ocorrência

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.

Atlantic forest; galling insect; gall richness; insect-plant interaction