Insect galls from the Serra Negra do Funil Natural Heritage Private Reserve, Rio Preto, MG (Southeastern Brazil)

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Botany
• Ecology

Background:

• Insect galls are plant structures induced by arthropods.
• Understanding gall diversity and host plant interactions is crucial for biodiversity assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey insect galls in Serra Negra do Funil Natural Heritage Private Reserve (NHPR).
• To identify host plants and gall morphotypes.
• To analyze gall distribution and characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Monthly surveys of insect galls from October 2015 to May 2020.
• Botanical identification of host plants.
• Gall photography, collection, and laboratory analysis (rearing and dissection).

Main Results:

• 63 gall morphotypes were found on 48 plant species across 22 families.
• Fabaceae and Asteraceae families showed the highest gall richness.
• Most galls were leaf-borne, globoid, brown/green, glabrous, one-chambered, and induced by Cecidomyiidae.

Conclusions:

• The study reinforces known Brazilian gall morphology patterns.
• Findings support plant richness and architectural complexity hypotheses for gall distribution.
• The high endemism underscores the NHPR's importance for biodiversity conservation.