Galling insects in Schinus fasciculata (Anacardiaceae) in the Espinal from central Argentina

Galls are the most complex interaction between plants and insects during the course of their evolution. The species of galling insects are found in the most of biogeographic regions, but mainly in xeric habitats, as the Espinal eco-region, located in the Pampa Biogeographic Region, Chacoan Subregion. Schinus fasciculata (Griseb.) I. M. Johnst. (Anacardiaceae) it is a tree or shrub, representative from the Espinal eco-region, which supports several kinds of galls. Our objectives are to identify the insect species that induce leaves and stem galls on Schinus fasciculata, in an Espinal relict from province of Córdoba and to describe the exomorphology of galls. In this Espinal relict 18 plants of Schinus fasciculata, in four transects of 100 m² were selected. Five morphological types of galls were found, three on leaves, induced by insects belonging to Hemiptera Order, and two on stems, induced by insects of Lepidoptera Order. The galling insects were identified at species level and the different morphotypes of galls found were unique to each galling insect species.

Córdoba; insect galls; Hemiptera; Lepidoptera; Chacoan Subregion