Occurrence and Characterization of Entomogen Galls 705
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OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTOMOGEN GALLS 705 OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTOMOGEN GALLS IN PLANTS FROM NATURAL VEGETATION AREAS IN DELFINÓPOLIS, MG, BRAZIL URSO-GUIMARÃES, M. V.,1 SCARELI-SANTOS, C.2 and BONIFÁCIO-SILVA, A. C.3 1Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP/USP, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14900-401, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil 2Departamento de Ecología de los Recursos Naturales, Instituto de Ecología, UNAM, Campus Morelia Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro, n. 8701, Col. Ex-Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, C.P. 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, México 3Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Comparada, FFCLRP/USP, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14900-401, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil Correspondence to: Maria Virgínia Urso-Guimarães, Departamento de Biologia, FFCLRP/USP, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14900-401, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, e-mail: [email protected] Received September 13, 2002 – Accepted November 20, 2002 – Distributed November 30, 2003 (With 24 figures) 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 induc- ers 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. Key words: galls, insect gall maker, cerrado, rocky fields, Brazil. RESUMO Ocorrência e caracterização de galhas entomógenas em plantas de áreas de vegetação natural em Delfinópolis, MG, Brasil Neste trabalho registramos a ocorrência de galhas, galhadores, inquilinos e parasitóides em plantas de três áreas de vegetação natural em Delfinópolis, MG, Brasil. Como resultado foram obtidas galhas coletadas em folhas, nervuras de folhas, pecíolos, ramos e inflorescências de quinze famílias distintas. Quanto à morfologia, foram coletadas galhas globóides, cônicas, discóides e fusiformes, em forma de concha, uma sem formato definido e uma substituição do ovário pelo imaturo. Como principais indutores foram obtidos insetos das famílias Cecidomyiidae (Diptera), Psyllidae e Diaspididae (Sternorrhyncha/Hemiptera). Os parasitóides são da superfamília Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) e, como inquilinos ocasionais, Polyxenidae (Diplopoda) e Psocodea (Psocoptera). Os resultados deste trabalho contribuem para aumento do conhecimento sobre a diversidade de plantas hospedeiras e insetos galhadores associados à vegetação de campo rupestre, cerrado e mata de galeria. Palavras-chave: galhas, inseto galhador, cerrado, campo rupestre, Brasil. Braz. J. Biol., 63(4): 705-715, 2003 706 URSO-GUIMARÃES, M. V., SCARELI-SANTOS, C. and BONIFÁCIO-SILVA, A. C. INTRODUCTION 1999). The climate is Cwa type, being temperate rainy and hot (C) with summer rains (w), the A galls is a pathologically developed vegetal average temperature in the hottest month reaching tissue originating mechanically or chemically in more than 22ºC (a) (Köppen classification). The stimulation of inductor agents. The process can be average annual rainfall is higher than 1630 mm, classified as hypertrophic or hyperplastic depending mainly between December and January with on the case. According to Mani (1964), these types average rainfall indices of 100 mm; the driest period develop through interaction of host plant and inducer, is from May to August with average precipitation a hypothesis defended also by Abrahamson & of less than 40 mm (Nimer, 1989). McCrea (1986), who proposed that gall phenotype is a result of interaction between two genotypes. Studied vegetation The first is of the inducer, for the stimulus, the second Minas Gerais presents a complex mosaic is of the host plant, for the reaction. In this way, composed of forest areas, cerrado, high grassland, it is expected that different gall makers produce and rocky fields. These latter two are associated with different gall types in the same host. Gullan & the shallow soil of the highest points of the local Cranston (1994), and Hartley (1998), among other mountains, whereas occur cerrado and forest in the authors, defended this hypothesis, highlighting a deepest soils which is fertile, with abundant ground complex specificity in the interacting gall maker- water (Eiten, 1982, apud Oliveira-Filho et al., 1994). host plant. The high level of specificity of the gall- The cerrado (Brazilian savannah) is a type of maker and host-plant association have been vegetation varying in physiognomy, ranging from commented on by many authors (Mani, 1964; fields with a cover of sparse brush and low trees to Abrahamson et al., 1998) and is regarded as one forest formations, with trees of heights from 12 to of the better systems for critically evaluating 15 m (Fig. 1). The herbaceous stratum is mostly coevolution of involved organisms (Abrahamson composed of grasses which are bushy and and & McCrea, 1986). dicotyledonous, but present neither rose-like plants, Other authors have performed studies nor succulent or spiny ones. Only a few lianas and involving occurrence and characterization of galls epiphytes are present (Rizzini, 1979). The cerrado in diverse environments. Occhioni (1979, 1981) occurs on reddish-yellow, dark red, and purple latosol obtained 35 types of galls in 34 families of plants which is strongly or moderately acid, with pH varying in the restinga environment; Fernandes et al. (1988, between 4.5-5.5 (Ribeiro & Walter, 1998). The families 1997) related the occurrence of galls and their Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Myrtaceae, Melastomataceae, and characterization in Brazilian cerrado and rocky field Rubiaceae are the most common in this region (Ba- plants, and Scarelli-Santos & Urso-Guimarães talha & Mantovani, 2000). (submitted) found 37 galls in 16 families of plants Gallery forests (Fig. 2) accompany small in cerrado vegetation. In Brazil, the principal host rivers, forming a closed corridor in watercourses plants of insect galls belong to the Asteraceae, above the water stream, and usually occur on valley Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, and Anonnaceae families. bottoms or in drainage areas. They may also be The present work aimed to morphologically present in transitions between initial formations of describe galls, with mention of the inducers, so as cerrados and fields. Concerning floristic composition, to increase the knowledge about the diversity of galls both types commonly belong to the following and gall makers in three distinct areas of natural families: Myrtaceae, Leguminosae, Vochysiaceae, vegetation in Delfinópolis, MG, Brazil. Rutaceae, Meliaceae, and Rubiaceae (van den Berg & Oliveira-Filho, 2000; Bertani et al., 2001). Physical characterization of the region The rocky fields (Fig. 3) are characterized by The Delfinópolis region is located in Minas a continuous herbaceous stratum, made up mainly Gerais State, southeastern Brazil (46º45’-47º00’W of Graminae, Eriocaulaceae, Xyridaceae, and and 20º15’-20º30’S), in the area surrounding Re- Cyperaceae, as well as areas where some bushy presa de Peixoto of the Rio Grande River. It is forms also appear, specially representatives of the situated geomorphologically in Patamares da Ca- families Velloziaceae, Asteraceae, Melastomataceae, nastra (the Canastra mountain range area), with Malpighiaceae, Myrtaceae, Fagaceae, and altitudes varying from 600 to 1200 m (EMBRAPA, Vochysiaceae (Giulietti et al., 1987). Braz. J. Biol., 63(4): 705-715, 2003 OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTOMOGEN GALLS 707 Figs. 1-3 — General view of the environment studied. Fig. 1 — Cerrado. Fig. 2 — Gallery forest. Fig. 3 — Rocky field. Braz. J. Biol., 63(4): 705-715, 2003 708 URSO-GUIMARÃES, M. V., SCARELI-SANTOS, C. and BONIFÁCIO-SILVA, A. C. These occur in regions where the altitude may (Anacardiaceae) is glabrous on its adaxial surface vary from 700 to 1000 m and the plants are subject and pubescent on its abaxial surface (Fig. 4). to constant wind, hot daylight, and cool nights; they Fernandes et al. (1997) state that the hair and spine are usually found in latosol in condition of low water protect the inducer inside the gall against parasitoids, availability. What water is present is quickly drained although all hairy galls found in Delfinópolis had into the surrounding rivers, due to shallow depth an associated parasitoid. and reduced water-retention capability of local soil The majority of plant species presented only (Ribeiro & Walter, 1998). one morphological type of gall. The exceptions were B. ungulata (Fabaceae) with a leaf (Fig. 13) Treatment of samples and a stem gall (Fig. 14); C. pohliana (Rubiaceae) The host plant samples were collected with one hairy gall in the leaf and another the in following the Fernandes et al. (1988) methodology, stem (Fig. 21); and Q. parviflora (Vochysiaceae) photographed, stored, and labeled in plastic bags. with two different types of galls on its leaves: one In the laboratory, morphological descriptions and discoidal, occurring along the