Host plants and entomogenous galls in understory of tropical forests in the Pará, Brazil

Authors

  • Walter Santos de Araújo Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.
  • Éder Dasdoriano Porfírio Júnior Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.
  • Vanessa Araújo Jorge Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.
  • Kleber do Espírito-Santo Filho Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.

Abstract

In this study we recorded the occurrence of galls and host plants in understory areas of Floresta Ombrófila Densa, in the Floresta Nacional de Saracá-Taquera in Porto Trombetas, north of Pará, Brazil. We recorded 112 gall morphotypes distributed in 65 families and 33 species of host plants, being Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) the most important group of galling insects. The plant families that showed more gall richness were Fabaceae with 18 morphotypes, Bignoniaceae with 14, Lauraceae and Sapotaceae with 12, and Burseraceae with 10 galling species. The genera Adenocalymma (Bignoniaceae), Pouteria (Sapotaceae), Inga (Fabaceae) and Protium (Burseraceae) and the species Adenocalymma neoflavidum (Bignoniaceae) and Ocotea sp. (Lauraceae) were the most diverse host plant taxa. Gall richness in the studied forest is high when compared to others Brazilian biomes, as Cerrado and Mata Atlântica. These results show the importance of Amazon region to diversity of entomogenous galls in the Brazil.

Author Biographies

Walter Santos de Araújo, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.

Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Ecology, Campus II. E-mail: walterbioaraujo@yahoo.com.br

Éder Dasdoriano Porfírio Júnior, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.

Laboratory of Morphology and Plant Taxonomy, Campus II, Caixa Postal 131, 74001-970.

Vanessa Araújo Jorge, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.

Analysis Laboratory and Environmental Management of Water Resources.

Kleber do Espírito-Santo Filho, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO.

Faculty of Environmental Engineering.

Published

2012-12-24

Issue

Section

Artigos