Riqueza e distribuição de insetos galhadores em arbustos de campos altitudinais da Serra da Mantiqueira

Abstract

The richness of galling insects is high in southeastern Brazil. However, there are a lack of surveys in many areas. The aim of this study was to describe the richness of galling insects and their host plants from Serra da Mantiqueira - Brazil. Samplings were carried out in campos de altitude from three regions of Serra da Mantiqueira 1) campos de altitude of Brigadeiro State Park, in Araponga - MG and 2) Caparaó National Park, in Alto Caparaó-MG and 3) Rupestrian fields of Ibitipoca State Park, in Conceição do Ibitipoca-MG. There were found 83 species of gall inducing insects in 15 families, 27 genera and 42 species of host plants. The richness of galling insects from Ibitipoca State Park was 31, for the Brigadeiro State Park was 39 and 15 in the Caparao National Park. The two families, Asteraceae (50,6%) and Melastomataceae (19,2%), hosted the highest number of gall morphtypes. The family Cecydomiidae (Diptera) was the most frequent, accounting for 82% of insects sampled. The most attacked organ was the stem (48%) followed by leaf (37%). Only 12% of the galls described in this study were reported in previous studies, reinforcing the need to increase the sampling effort in order to better understand the richness and natural history of galling insects in Brazil.