Gall-inducing insects of restinga areas (Atlantic Forest) in Brazil: economic importance

Many gall-inducing insects have been reported as pests in the Old World and North America, although few such examples are known from South America. A list of gall-inducing insects of potential economic importance, with a focus on those of restinga environments, was compiled using Maia (2013a) as starting point and updated with the database “Thompson ISI”, using ‘Insect (title) and gall (topic)’ as keywords. Botanical names were updated using the site “Flora do Brasil, 2020”, while potential economic significance of host plant species was acquired from Santos et al. (2009) and the site “Useful Tropical Plants”. Fifty-eight galling species were associated with 29 economically important plant species of 18 families in Brazilian restingas. The gallers were found to belong to Diptera (Cecidomyiidae and Agromyzidae) and Hemiptera (Eriococcidae and Psyllidae), among which Cecidomyiidae were the most important, with 55 gall-inducing species distributed among 28 genera. Six of the found genera are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and, until now, have been exclusively reported in restingas. About 78% of the gallers have been recorded only in Southeast Brazil and about 64% only in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Most gallers were found to be mainly associated with edible and/or medicinal plant species. Data on natural enemies are scarce with most records having been published at the taxonomic level of family or genus. Natural enemies were found associated with 43 gall-inducing species and included parasitoids, predators and inquilines. The first were the most diverse, being represented by 13 hymenopteran families, but the impacts of all of these guilds on galler populations are poorly known. Although 58 gall-inducing species were identified in the present study, the number of insect galls associated with plants of economic interests in restinga environments is about three times greater, since a total of 186 gall morphotypes have been reported. Nonetheless, many gallers are still undetermined, thus revealing how deficient their taxonomical knowledge remains

Insetos galhadores da pitangueira e do araçazeiro no Sul do Rio Grande do Sul.

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The Cecidomyiidae (Insecta: Diptera) type collection of Museu Nacional/UFRJ (Brazil) / A coleção de tipos de Cecidomyiidae (Insecta: Diptera) do Museu Nacional/UFRJ (Brasil)

A coleção do Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro compreende tipos de 50 gêneros e 129 espécies de Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). Inclui material proveniente, principalmente, da Mata Atlântica e também do Cerrado, Floresta Amazônica e Caatinga. Além de espécies brasileiras, a coleção possui tipos de duas espécies do Peru, Dasineura theobromae Maia, 2006 e Heterodiplosis peruviana Maia, 2010. A coleção de tipos de Cecidomyiidae do Museu Nacional é uma das mais diversificadas e importantes no Brasil e pode ser considerada uma coleção de referência para estudos taxonômicos da fauna Neotropical. 

First characterization of a taxonomically well‑resolved trophic network composed by host plants and gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in the Neotropical region

In the present study we described the structure of a trophic network composed by gall-midge species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and their host plants in the Restinga of Barra de Maricá (Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Species data were retrieved from literature and different topological descriptors (links per species, connectance, and modularity of interactions) were used. All gall-midge species were monophages, with connectance of 2.8% of the 2,016 possible interactions. The network of host plants and gall midges had low number of links per species and high modularity, which indicates high specificity and specialization of plant-galling interactions in the area. This is the first characterization of a trophic network with good taxonomic resolution for the Neotropical gall midges

Gall-inducing insects of restinga areas (Atlantic Forest) in Brazil: economic importance

Many gall-inducing insects have been reported as pests in the Old World and North America, although few such examples are known from South America. A list of gall-inducing insects of potential economic importance, with a focus on those of restinga environments, was compiled using Maia (2013a) as starting point and updated with the database “Thompson ISI”, using ‘Insect (title) and gall (topic)’ as keywords. Botanical names were updated using the site “Flora do Brasil, 2020”, while potential economic significance of host plant species was acquired from Santos et al. (2009) and the site “Useful Tropical Plants”. Fifty-eight galling species were associated with 29 economically important plant species of 18 families in Brazilian restingas. The gallers were found to belong to Diptera (Cecidomyiidae and Agromyzidae) and Hemiptera (Eriococcidae and Psyllidae), among which Cecidomyiidae were the most important, with 55 gall-inducing species distributed among 28 genera. Six of the found genera are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and, until now, have been exclusively reported in restingas. About 78% of the gallers have been recorded only in Southeast Brazil and about 64% only in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Most gallers were found to be mainly associated with edible and/or medicinal plant species. Data on natural enemies are scarce with most records having been published at the taxonomic level of family or genus. Natural enemies were found associated with 43 gall-inducing species and included parasitoids, predators and inquilines. The first were the most diverse, being represented by 13 hymenopteran families, but the impacts of all of these guilds on galler populations are poorly known. Although 58 gall-inducing species were identified in the present study, the number of insect galls associated with plants of economic interests in restinga environments is about three times greater, since a total of 186 gall morphotypes have been reported. Nonetheless, many gallers are still undetermined, thus revealing how deficient their taxonomical knowledge remains

Plasticidade fenotípica e diversidade funcional de comunidades florísticas em gradiente edáfico na restinga do Parque Estadual do Acaraí, São Francisco do Sul/SC

Orientadora : Profª Drª Maria Regina Torres BoegerTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação. Defesa: Curitiba, 11/02/2015Inclui referênciasResumo: As comunidades de restinga são formações florística e fisionomicamente distintas, de caráter pioneiro, que ocupam as planícies arenosas, em função do gradiente edáfico, como o remanescente de restinga da planície costeira de São Francisco do Sul/SC. Nossa hipótese é de que os fatores edáficos influenciam na riqueza e na estrutura das fisionomias da restinga estudada, além de provocarem respostas plásticas em espécies vegetais coocorrentes e produzir convergências em atributos foliares e da madeira em espécies dominantes. Para o levantamento florístico utilizou-se o método de caminhamento, enquanto a estrutura da comunidade foi determinada pelo método de parcelas. Amostras de solo de cada fisionomia para análise de macronutrientes, matéria orgânica, umidade e espessura da serapilheira foram coletadas e processadas de acordo com as técnicas de análise de rotina. Para verificar as diferenças entre as comunidades em função das variáveis edáficas, realizou-se o teste de Mantel. Para visualizar as diferenças, as parcelas foram ordenadas em relação às variáveis de solo por PCA e às espécies por NMDS. Respostas plásticas foram estudadas em três espécies lenhosas coocorrentes utilizando-se os atributos foliares. As médias dos atributos quantitativos foliares foram comparadas por análise multivariada (ANOVA). Os atributos funcionais que maximizam a convergência entre as espécies dominantes, os índices de diversidade de Gini-Simpson e funcional foram avaliados por meio do software SYNCSA. A flora, composta por 319 espécies, possui 244 espécies exclusivas nas formações, sendo 63 espécies na restinga herbácea (Rh), 32 na restinga arbustiva (Ra), 46 na restinga arbustivo-arbórea (Raa) e 103 na floresta de transição (Ft). As demais espécies são compartilhadas em uma ou mais fisionomias. Variações morfológicas e anatômicas entre espécies e entre formações em função das condições microambientais foram observadas. A PCA indicou que a distribuição das espécies e estrutura de cada formação foram influenciados por fatores edáficos, como matéria orgânica, potássio, alumínio, a capacidade de troca catiônica e espessura da serapilheira, sendo esses determinantes da flora característica de cada formação. As respostas plásticas observadas nas espécies coocorrentes também foram relacionadas aos atributos edáficos das restingas. As espécies dominantes apresentaram atributos foliares lenhosos convergentes. A diversidade funcional mostrou-se mais baixa em Rh, evidenciando o filtro ambiental atuante e a maior redundância entre as espécies. Palavras-chave: morfo-anatomia funcional, relações planta-solo, restingaAbstract: The restinga communities are distinct floristic, physiognomic and pioneer formations, occupying the sandy plains, depending on the soil gradient such as the remaining salt marsh of the coastal plain of São Francisco do Sul/SC. Our hypothesis is that the edaphic factors influence the structure of the studied physiognomies and, also, induce plastic responses in plant species, producing convergences in leaf and wood attributes at dominant species. For the floristic survey the wide patrolling method was used, while the community structure was determined through the phytosociological method. Soil samples of each physiognomy were collected and processed according to routine analysis techniques, for macronutrient analysis, organic material and water content, and litter thickness. The Mantel test was conducted in order to verify the differences between the communities due to edaphic variables. The differences among sites were evidenced through soil variables by PCA and the species by NMDS. Plastic responses were studied in three co-occurring wood species using the leaf attributes. The measurements of the quantitative leaf attributes were compared by the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The functional attributes that maximize the convergence between the dominant species, the Gini-Simpson diversity and functional indices were evaluated through SYNCSA software. The floristic survey, composed of 319 species, included 244 species in exclusive formations, with 63 species in the herbaceous restinga (Rh), 32 in the shrubby restinga (Ra), 46 shrubby and wooded restinga (Raa) and 103 in the transition forest (Ft). The other species occurred into one or more physiognomies. Morphological and anatomical variations among species and formations due to micro environmental conditions were observed. The PCA indicated that the distribution of the species and the structure of each formation were influenced by edaphic factors, such as organic material, potassium, aluminum, cation exchange capacity and litter thickness, with these determining the flora characteristics of each formation. The plastic responses observed in the co-ocurrent species were also related to the edaphic attributes of the restinga. The dominant species presented convergent woody leaf attributes. The functional diversity was found to be lower in Rh, underlining the active environmental filter and greater redundancy among the species. Key words: functional morpho-anatomy, plant-soil ratios, resting

New gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) associated with Eugenia uniflora and Psidium cattleianum (Myrtaceae)

Two new species and a new genus of gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) are described and illustrated. Both species induce leaf galls on Myrtaceae, the former on Eugenia uniflora and the latter on Psidium cattleianum

Bioécologie et diversité génétique d'Orthops palus (Heteroptera, Miridae), ravageur du manguier à La Réunion

Mango crops in Reunion Island are threatened by a series of pests, including the bug Orthops palus (Heteroptera, Miridae). This species has only been reported in Uganda and Reunion Island but is considered pest of mango only in Reunion Island. Few studies have therefore been devoted to this bug, which explains the lack of knowledge concerning this pest. The overall aim of my thesis was to acquire knowledge about O. palus, and several specific objectives were pursued. The first was to characterize mirid diversity in the mango orchards of Reunion Island. The second was to characterize the life cycle of O. palus and insect-plant interactions. The third objective was to study the distribution and genetic diversity of the species in Reunion Island and on other islands in the south-west Indian Ocean (SWIO).The main results of these studies are: among the 13 species identified in the community of mirids in mango orchards, O. palus was the most abundant on the mango inflorescences when in flower. Three original tools were built to identify O. palus in the laboratory and to recognize the species in the field: an identification key, COI sequences, and a field recognition card). A method was developed to rear O. palus, which enabled the characterization of its life cycle and the length of the development stages. Meanwhile, the inventory of in situ host plants (15 species in Reunion Island) showed that O. palus is polyphagous. Studies of the diversity and genetic structure of O. palus in SWIO islands also provided significant results. In Reunion Island, the population is structured in two clusters, although the structural factors could not be fully identified. In Mauritius, one cluster was identified and was shown to be different from the clusters in Reunion Island. No host race was found either in Reunion Island or in Mauritius. Population movements in both directions between the two islands were highlighted. Finally, the analysis of the mitochondrial DNA diversity of individuals sampled on four SWIO islands (Reunion, Mauritius, Mayotte, Grande Comore) revealed the presence of at least seven haplotypes whose distribution confirmed exchanges between islands.The dynamics of O. palus in space and over time are discussed in connection with its survival strategy over the course of the year and with population flows across SWIO. The results showed that beyond being a bug that attacks only the mango tree, as the name strongly suggests, O. palus is rather a "flower bug" likely to maintain populations throughout the year by moving from one flowering plant to another according to food availability. Among the plants involved in the annual dynamics of the insect, several species beside mango are of economic interest (lychee, jujube, avocado). Several research topics are proposed to complete the knowledge already acquired on O. palus, including understanding of population dispersion processes at the scale of the agro-ecosystem, and evaluating the presence and the genetic diversity of O. palus in other SWOI territories. Finally, agroecological practices for the local management of O. palus populations are proposed based on the results of the studies that comprise the present dissertation. Recommendations are made for precautionary measures to prevent the flow of O. palus populations between countries located in the Indian Ocean.La culture du manguier à La Réunion est confrontée à un cortège de bioagresseurs, dont la punaise Orthops palus (Heteroptera, Miridae). Cette espèce est uniquement signalée en Ouganda et à La Réunion mais n'est considérée comme ravageur du manguier qu'à La Réunion. Peu d'études ont donc été consacrées à cet insecte, ce qui est à l'origine du manque de connaissance sur ce ravageur. L'objectif général de cette thèse est l'acquisition de connaissances sur O. palus. Il se décline en plusieurs objectifs spécifiques. Il s'agit, dans un premier temps, de caractériser la diversité de mirides présentes dans les vergers de manguiers de La Réunion. Dans un deuxième temps, l'objectif est de caractériser le cycle biologique d'O. palus et les interactions insecte-plantes. Enfin, dans un troisième temps, le dernier objectif consiste à étudier la distribution et la diversité génétique de l'espèce à La Réunion et dans la zone sud-ouest de l'océan Indien (SOOI). Les principaux résultats de la thèse sont les suivants. La miridofaune des vergers de manguiers a été étudiée et, parmi les 13 espèces de mirides recensées, O. palus est l'espèce la plus abondante sur les inflorescences du manguier lors de sa floraison. Pour identifier O. palus au laboratoire et la reconnaître sur le terrain, trois outils originaux ont été construits (une clé d'identification, des séquences du Cytochrome c Oxydase I et une fiche de reconnaissance sur le terrain). Un élevage d'O. palus a été mis au point ; il a permis de caractériser son cycle biologique et de mesurer les durées de développement des différents stades. Parallèlement, l'inventaire in situ des plantes hôtes d'O. palus (15 espèces à La Réunion) a montré le caractère polyphage de espèce. Les études sur la diversité et la structuration génétique d'O. palus dans les îles du SOOI ont apporté des résultats importants. À La Réunion, la population d'O. palus est structurée en deux clusters, mais les facteurs structurant n'ont pu être totalement identifiés. À Maurice, une seule population est recensée et demeure différente de celles de La Réunion. Aucune race d'hôte n'a été mise en évidence, ni à La Réunion, ni à Maurice. Des flux de populations, dans les deux sens, ont été mis en évidence entre ces deux îles. Enfin, l'analyse de la diversité de l'ADN mitochondrial sur des individus prélevés sur quatre îles du SOOI (La Réunion, Maurice, Mayotte, Grande Comore) montre la présence d'au moins sept haplotypes dont la distribution confirme les échanges inter-îles. La dynamique spatiale et temporelle de l'insecte en relation avec sa stratégie de passage de l'année ainsi que les flux de populations à l'échelle du SOOI font l'objet de discussions transversales. Les résultats montrent qu'au-delà d'être une punaise s'attaquant uniquement au manguier, comme son nom le suggérait jusqu'à présent, O. palus est surtout une "Punaise des fleurs", susceptible de se maintenir toute l'année en se déplaçant, selon la disponibilité des ressources alimentaires, de plante en fleur à plante en fleur. Parmi les plantes participant à sa dynamique annuelle, plusieurs sont des plantes d'intérêt économique (letchi, jujubier, avocatier). Diverses perspectives de recherche sont proposées pour compléter les connaissances déjà acquises sur O. palus, notamment la compréhension des processus de dispersion des populations à l'échelle de l'agroécosystème, la vérification de la présence d'O. palus dans d'autres territoires du SOOI et l'étude de sa diversité génétique dans cette même région. Enfin, à la lumière des résultats acquis dans la thèse, des propositions de gestion agroécologique des populations d'O. palus à l'échelle locale, ainsi que des recommandations sur les mesures de précaution à prendre pour éviter les flux de populations entre les pays de l'océan Indien sont faites