Abstract
Interest in studying galls and their arthropods inducers has been growing rapidly in the last two decades. However, the Neotropical region is probably the least studied region for gall-inducing arthropods. A study of the richness and composition of gall-inducing arthropods was carried out at Coiba National Park in the Republic of Panama. Field data come from samples obtained between August 1997 and September 1999, with three (two-week long) more intensive samplings. Seventeen sites, representing the main land habitats of Coiba National Park were surveyed. 4942 galls of 50 insect and 9 mite species inducing galls on 50 vascular plants from 30 botanical families were colleted. 62.7% of the galls were induced by gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), 15.3% by mites, Eriophyidae, 8.5% by Homoptera, Psyllidae, 6.8% by Coccidae and 5.1% by Phlaeothripidae (Tysanoptera). The host plant families with the most galls were Myrtaceae with seven, Bignoniaceae with five and Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Melastomataceae with four. Leaf galls accounted for about 93% of collected galls. Most leaf galls were pit/blister galls followed by covering and pouch galls. Gall richness per collecting site was between 1 and 19 species. Coiba's gall diversity is discussed in relation to data available from other tropical sites from continental Panama and the Neotropical region. Our results support the idea that it may be premature to conclude that species richness of gall inducers declines near the equator.
Highlights
Many groups of insects and mites, estimated in a range from 21 000 to 211 000 species, with an average of 132 930 species (EspíritoSanto and Fernandes 2007), are capable of inducing galls on plants, which are structures that involve active differentiation and growth of plant tissues providing shelter, nutrition and protection for the gall-inducing organism (Meyer 1987, Nieves-Aldrey 1998, Stone and Schönrogge 2003)
It was not possible to identify the genus of nine host plant species mostly Myrtaceae. 62.7% of the galls were induced by species of the family Cecidomyiidae, 15.3% by Eriophyidae, 8.5% by Psyllidae, 6.8% by Coccidae, 5.1% by Phlaeothripidae; one species corresponding to 1.7% could not be determined. 93. 1% of the galls were found on leaves, 3.4% on stems and 5.2% on buds (Table 2)
The plant species with the greatest diversity of galls was Calophyllum longifolium (Clusiaceae) with three, seven species were found with two galls (Amphitecna latifolia, Mansoa sp., Acalypha diversifolia, Casearia commersoniana, Lacistema aggregatum, Cassipourea elliptica and Pouteria foveolata) whilst only one
Summary
Many groups of insects and mites, estimated in a range from 21 000 to 211 000 species, with an average of 132 930 species (EspíritoSanto and Fernandes 2007), are capable of inducing galls on plants, which are structures that involve active differentiation and growth of plant tissues providing shelter, nutrition and protection for the gall-inducing organism (Meyer 1987, Nieves-Aldrey 1998, Stone and Schönrogge 2003). Mites inducing galls belong mostly to the family Eriophyidae These galling-insect groups have different distribution patterns, and their distribution may be correlated with the breaking up and movement of continents (Gagné 1984). The Neotropical region continuous to be a poorly studied region for gall-inducing arthropods in general (Espírito-Santo and Fernandes 2007). The most important references are the classic work by Houard (1933), the book by Gagné (1994) on gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) and local studies in Brazil (Maia 2001, 2005, Gonçalves-Alvin and Fernandes 2001, Maia and Fernandes 2004, Costa De Oliveira and Maia 2005, Urso-Guiamares and Scareli-Santos 2006); Costa Rica (Hanson and Goméz-Laurito 2005); Mexico (Cuevas-Reyes et al 2004a, 2004b) and Panama (Medianero et al 2001). The aim of this study is to estimate the richness and composition of gall inducing arthropod species in an unexplored insular tropical habitat off the Pacific coast of Panama, and compare them with data available from continental Panama
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