Entomogenous galls and their associated fauna in deciduous dry forest and woodland vegetation remnants (Caatinga) in the Northern Depressão Sertaneja, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract A survey and characterization of entomogenous galls and their associated fauna were carried out in six remnants of Caatinga in the Northern Depressão Sertaneja, in the states of Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará. We identified 41 gall morphotypes in 24 plant species, belonging to 12 botanical families. Fabaceae had 29.2% (n = 12) of the total number of gall morphotypes found. Leaves (61%) and stems (25%) were the most attacked organs. Most morphotypes are glabrous (75.6%), while only 24.4% exhibit trichomes. Most galls were induced by insects of the Cecidomyiidae family. The associated fauna comprised successors, cecidophages, tenants, and parasitoids. Sucessors were found in four morphotypes of galls and included spiders and four orders of insects: Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera (Formicidae). The tenants were represented by Tanaostigmoides (Tanaostigmatidae). The parasitoids, found in 18 morphotypes (43.9%), were represented by six families of Hymenoptera. We recorded the occurrence of new types of galls in 12 species of host plants. These gall records are new references for the Northern Depressão Sertaneja in the studied states.