Valéria Cid Maia

The gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) from three restingas of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

One hundred and eight species of Cecidomyiinae (Cecidomyiidae) were found in association with 53 species of plant distributed among 42 genera and 32 families at restingas of Barra de Marica, Itaipuacu and Carapebus. Ninety four gall midge species were cecidogenous, four predaceous, five inquilinous of galls and five were free living. Galling species were associated with 47 plant species belonging to 36 genera and 28 families. The majority of the galls occurred on the leaves (N = 63); 13 on buds; nine on inflorescence, closed flower or flower peduncle; three on fruits and one on tendril. Myrtaceae were the richest plant family in number of galls followed by Burseraceae, Nyctaginaceae, Sapotaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Malpighiaceae and Solanaceae. New records of host plants and localities were recorded. Seventy nine Cecidomyiinae species were found at Restinga of Barra de Marica, 64 at Carapebus and 41 at Itaipuacu. Sorensens index revealed that the restingas of Barra de Marica and Itaipuacu ate more similar in Cecidomyiinae fauna, confirming a positive relation between geographical proximity and fauna similarity.

Are gall midge species (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) host-plant specialists?

Despite the speciose fauna of gall-inducing insects in the Neotropical region, little is known about their taxonomy. On the other hand, gall morphotypes associated with host species have been extensively used as a surrogate of the inducer species worldwide. This study reviewed the described gall midges and their galls to test the generalization on the use of gall morphotypes as surrogates of gall midge species in the Brazilian fauna. We compiled taxonomic and biological data for 196 gall midge species recorded on 128 host plant species. Ninety two percent of those species were monophagous, inducing galls on a single host plant species, whereas only 5.6% species were oligophagous, inducing galls on more than one congeneric host plant species. Only four species induced galls on more than one host plant genus. We conclude that gall morphotypes associated with information on the host plant species and attacked organs are reliable surrogates of the gall-inducing species.

Ocorrência e caracterização de galhas de insetos em áreas de restinga de Bertioga (São Paulo, Brasil)

Studies on entomogenous galls at restinga areas in the State of Sao Paulo are very scarce, and the diversity of galling insects is completely unknown in these areas. In this study, we investigated restinga environments in Bertioga (S.P.) in order to contribute to the knowledge of the galls and the taxonomy of the galling insects in this State. Two hundred thirty three kinds of insect gall were found on 123 plant species and 48 families. The Myrtaceae and Asteraceae showed the greatest number of attacked species (14 and 13, respectively) and the greatest richness of galls (31 and 29, respectively). Most galls (about 60%) were observed on leaves. Galls of Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera e Thysanoptera were found, being the majority (about 57%) induced by Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). Other dwellers were found in 117 kinds of gall (about 50%): inquilinous; sucessors; predators and parasitoids. Among them, the parasitoids and the inquilinous were the most frequent ones. The parasitoids belong to eigth families of Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae, Platygastridae, Pteromalidae, Torymidae, Braconidae, Encyrtidae, Mymaridae and Eupelmidae, being the first three the most frequent ones. The inquilinous belong to five insect orders: Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Thysanoptera, being the Diptera the most frequent.

Catálogo dos Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) do estado do Rio de Janeiro

About 500 species of 170 genera of the Cecidomyiidae are known in the Neotropical Region. The cecidomyiids are poorly known in Brazil, where 159 named species of 75 genera have been reported. Most of the species known in Brazil have been reported from the State of Rio de Janeiro where 95 species of 47 genera have been recorded. The main goal of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of the cecidomyiids in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Characterization of insect galls, gall makers, and associated fauna of Platô Bacaba (Porto de Trombetas, Pará, Brazil)

Seventy six morphotypes of insect galls were found on 38 plant species and one subspecies distributed among 27 genera and 22 families in Plato Bacaba (Porto de Trombetas, Para, Brazil). The majority of these galls (about 80%) occurred on leaves and 20% on stems. Burseraceae was the plant family with the greatest number of gall morphotypes (N = 23), followed by Fabaceae (N = 11) and Melastomataceae (N = 6). Protium Burm. f. (N = 17), Inga Miller (N = 8), and Tetragastris Gaertn (N = 6) were the plant genera, and Protium sagotianum Marchand (N = 7), Tetragastris panamensis (N = 6), and Miconia stenostachya DC. (N = 5) were the plant species that supported the highest diversity of galls. The galling inducers belong to Diptera (Cecidomyiidae) and Lepidoptera orders. Galls of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera and Thysanoptera were not found. This study adds evidences that Diptera (Cecidomyiidae) are the most frequent galling insects in different zoogeographical regions.

Galhas de insetos da Reserva Biológica Estadual da Praia do Sul (Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis, RJ)

Thirty-six morphotypes of insect galls were recorded for the first time in the Reserva Biologica Estadual da Praia do Sul (Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis, RJ), being the majority of them comprised of leaf galls (64%). Stem and bud galls were also found (25 and 14%, respectively). Myrtaceae were the plant family with the greatest richness of insect galls. Mikania sp. (Asteraceae) and Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae) were the super host plant species. The most important galling group was the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera), responsible for 75% of the gall morphotypes. Hemipteran and Lepidopteran galls were also recorded (11 and 2.8%, respectively).

Galhas de insetos do Parque Estadual Paulo César Vinha (Guarapari, ES, Brasil)

Insect galls of the Parque Estadual Paulo Cesar Vinha (Guarapari, ES, Brazil). Thirty-eigth morphotypes of insect galls were found on 21 plant species (19 genera and 17 families) in the Parque Estadual Paulo Cesar Vinha (Guaparari, ES). The majority of the galls occurred on the leaves (84%). Stem (13%) and bud galls (3%) were also found. One-chambered galls were the most frequent (52%), as well as glabrous ones (89%). Most part of them (84%) was induced by Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). Hemipteran galls were also found (16%). Parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) were obtained from 12 gall morphotypes, being represented by Eurytomidae, Eulophidae, Platygasteridae, Pteromalidae, and Torymidae. Inquilines were found in three morphotypes, being represented by Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Thysanoptera. Predaceous ants (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) were obtained from a single morphotype. Acarii and Psocoptera were found as sucessores in three morphotypes. Nyctaginaceae, Myrtaceae, Sapotaceae, Lauraceae, and Smilaceae were the richest plant families in number of galls. Five new records of host plants are present: Emmotum nitens (Icacinaceae), Andira nitida (Fabaceae), Chaetocarpus myrsinites (Euphorbiaceae), Salzmania nitida DC. (Rubiaceae), and Epidendrum denticulatum (Orchidaceae). Three new records of insect galls on three plant species - Clusia hilariana (Clusiaceae), Guapira pernambuscensis (Nyctaginaceae), and Ouratea cuspidata (Ochnaceae) are present. All records are new for the Espirito Santo State.

New genera and species of gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) from three restingas of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Five new genera and fourteen new species of gall midges from restingas of Rio de Janeiro State are described. The larva, pupa, male, female and gall are described for each species. The new genera are: Arrabidaeamyia, Epihormomyia, Manilkaramyia, Mayteniella and Parazalepidota. The new species are: Arrabidaeamyia serrata, Asphondylia peploniae, Clinodiplosis diodiae, Clinodiplosis profusa, Clusiamyia granulosa, Dasineura couepiae, Epihormomyia miconiae, Lopesia grandis, Lopesia marginalis, Lopesia singularis, Manilkaramyia notabilis, Mayteniella distincta, Parazalepidota clusiae and Paulliniamyia ampla. Also, the larva of a previously described species, Clusiamyia nitida Maia, 1996 is described and Asphondylia byrsonimae Maia & Couri is transferred to Bruggmaniella.

Galhas de insetos em restingas da região sudeste do Brasil com novos registros

As restingas da regiao sudeste do Brasil apresentam 476 morfotipos de galhas de insetos distribuidos em 60 familias, 131 generos e 229 especies de plantas. As Myrtaceae, Asteraceae e Fabaceae destacam-se por apresentar maior riqueza de galhas e maior numero de especies galhadas. Os generos super-hospedeiros sao Eugenia (Myrtaceae), Mikania (Asteraceae) e Myrcia (Myrtaceae). As especies super-hospedeiras sao: Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae), Mikania cf. biformis (Asteraceae) e seis especies de Myrtaceae: Eugenia adstringens, Eugenia multiflora, Eugenia copacabanensis, Myrcia fallax, Myrciaria floribunda e Psidium cattleyanum. As galhas ocorrem em todos os orgaos vegetativos e reprodutivos, predominando nas folhas. Os indutores pertencem as ordens Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Thysanoptera e Hymenoptera. Os Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) destacam-se como o principal grupo galhador e sao os unicos insetos a induzir galhas em todos os orgaos vegetais, mostrando uma forte preferencia por folhas. Os Lepidoptera representam o segundo grupo galhador mais diversificado em relacao ao orgao vegetal atacado, induzindo galhas em folhas, caules, gemas e frutos, com forte preferencia por caule. O conhecimento taxonomico das especies galhadoras ainda e incipiente. Apenas 35% das especies galhadoras estao identificadas (21% em nivel de especie e 14% em nivel de genero). Os demais registros estao em categorias taxonomicas supragenericas. Os Cecidomyiidae estao representados por 43 generos (cerca de 49% da fauna brasileira desta familia) com 156 especies (84 determinadas e 72 nao determinadas), mostrando uma boa representatividade do grupo na regiao sudeste. Os generos mais diversificados sao: Clinodiplosis (31 spp.), Neolasioptera (17 spp.), Asphondylia (15 spp.), Lopesia (15 spp.) e Dasineura (13 spp.). Quinze novas ocorrencias de galhas sao assinaladas para os municipios de Cabo Frio e Paraty (RJ), e uma nova especie de planta hospedeira e registrada.

Espécies cecidógenas (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) e parasitóides (Hymenoptera) associadas a Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz: (Nyctaginaceae) na Restinga da Barra de Maricá, Rio de Janeiro

Three different galls of Bruggmannia spp. (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz. (Nyctaginaceae) were studied at Restinga of Barra de Marica, State of Rio de Janeiro. Thirty parasitoid species are associated to these galls. Most of them is generalist and solitary. Hyperparasitoidism is common. The trophic relations among gall makers and parasitoids are presented.