Distribution of galling insects and their parasitoids on Caryocar brasiliense tree crowns.

G L D Leite,M A Soares,C I Maia E Almeida,R V S Veloso,A I A Pereira,P G Lemes,A M Azevedo,J C Zanuncio

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.235017

Abstract

Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) is widely distributed in the Brazilian savanna and its fruits are used by humans for food, production of cosmetics, lubricants, and in the pharmaceutical industry. This plant is damaged by galling insects. Number of these galling insects and their parasitoids was recorded, in the field (galls) and in the laboratory (adults emerged from the galls), from three C. brasiliense crown heights, during three years. Numbers of adults of Eurytoma sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), galling insect (younger attack) and Sycophila sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) (a parasitoid of Eurytoma sp.), were greater on the apical parts of C. brasiliense tree crowns. Numbers and groups of Eurytoma sp. globoid galls (older attack) were higher in the median and basal crown parts. The numbers of Eurytoma sp. galls were higher on apical part of C. brasiliense tree crown and also of their parasitoids.

Highlights

Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees are important to traditional people as food and production of cosmetics, lubricants, and in the pharmaceutical industry (Santos et al, 2018)
Number of Eurytoma sp. adults and length and width of their globoid galls were higher on the apical part of C. brasiliense tree crowns
The percentage of leaflets galled by all galling insects, leaflet area with Eurytoma sp. globoid galls and height and diameter of their globoid galls, numbers of Bruchophagus sp. vein galls, Eulophidae spherical galls, and Hymenopteran discoid galls did no differ between tree crown parts (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees are important to traditional people as food and production of cosmetics, lubricants, and in the pharmaceutical industry (Santos et al, 2018). Isolated C. brasiliense trees (i.e. pasture or gardening) are subjected to higher incidence of galling insects than in forest formations (i.e. cerrado) (Leite et al, 2017). Caryocar brasiliense leaves have four main galling insects (Hymenoptera) with distinct shape and morphology: i) Eurytoma sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) with globoid galls; ii) Bruchophagus sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) with vein galls; iii) Eulophidae (Hymenoptera) with spherical galls; and iv) hymenopteran discoid galls (Leite, 2014). Eurytoma sp., the main C. brasiliense leaf galler, has the parasitoids Sycophila sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), is a hyperparasitoid of Sycophila sp. Information and photos of the galling insects, their distribution within leaf and branch, the community of gall parasitoids, hyperparasitoids, and predator insects may be consulted on Leite (2014)

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