Valéria Cid Maia

Lopesia rondoniensis Proença & Maia sp.nov., Lopesia tonteleae Proença & Maia sp.nov., and Lopesia matogrossensis Proença & Maia sp.nov., three new species of Cecidomyiidae (Insecta: Diptera) that induce fusiform galls on leaves of Swartzia sp. (Fabaceae), conical galls on leaves of Tontelea sp. (Celastraceae), and lenticular galls on Protium sp. (Burseraceae), respectively, are described and illustrated based on material from Rondônia and Mato Grosso states, Brazil.

The genus Protium Burm.f. is known for being highly diverse in tropical forests and also for hosting a great diversity of insect galls. In this study we perform an inventory of the insect galls associated with Protium in the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, Peru. We found 59 gall morphotypes, distributed across 13 Protium species. Protium decandrum (Aubl.) Marchand and Protium opacum Swart., with 10 morphotypes each, hosted the greatest gall richness. All the galls occurred on leaves, and the majority were globoid. We found galling insects belonging to Diptera and Thysanoptera. Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) were the most common gall-inducing insects, responsible for 37.3% of the gall morphotypes. All the recorded gall morphotypes represent first records for the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve.

Pisphondylia rodriguese, sp. nov. is proposed based on specimens from the Entomological Collection of the Museu Nacional (MNRJ), mounted on microscope slides and identified as Pisphondylia sp. (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae). Male, female, pupa and larva of 3^rd instar are described. The most relevant morphological characters are illustrated. The new species induces galls on the flower peduncle of Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae), a native plant to Brazil. The type-locality is Ilha da Marambaia (Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro State). The new species is compared with others of the same genus.

The Brazilian arnica Solidago chilensis Meyen (Asteraceae), a plant traditionally used in ethnopharmacology for trauma treatment, is widely distributed across South America, including all regions of Brazil. This study aimed to identify and characterize gall-inducing insects associated with fused S. chilensis flowers. Flower branches were collected twice in March 2023 from Paraná, Brazil. The branches were dried and examined under a stereomicroscope, with galls subjected to micro-computed tomography (µCT). In the second collection, fresh branches were examined for the morphological characterization of floral heads. Galled flowers were removed and divided into three groups: 1) placed in an emergence chamber to obtain adults, 2) dissected to extract larvae and pupae, and 3) fixed in ethanol for µCT analysis. Macroscopic examination revealed two flower types for S. chilensis: hermaphroditic disc flowers (fused or non-fused) and ray flowers (ligulate). The gall-inducing insect was identified as Asphondylia paranaensis sp. nov. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a new species, and was described and illustrated based on its larval, pupal, male, female, and gall morphologies. The µCT provided novel insights into the pupal stage, and exuvia within the flower. This study highlights the importance of identifying new species, particularly medicinal plants, because gall-inducing insects may alter a plant’s metabolism and chemical composition, potentially influencing its biological properties. Further studies are required to assess the ecological and pharmacological effects of these interactions.

The life cycles of galling insects are synchronized with their host plant phenology, allowing them to better explore available resources. Distinct strategies among six galling species that share a superhost, Eugenia copacabanensis , were expected: optimizing growth of galls in times of increased availability of water and other resources. The vegetative and reproductive phenology of E. copacabanensis in Brazilian Restingas, climate patterns, and development cycles of six gall morphotypes were assessed throughout a year. The vegetative phenophases of E. copacabanensis presented peaks associated with the rainy season. Reproductive phenophases occurred at two different times: flower buds and flowers in anthesis occurred only during the rainy season, whereas fruits developed and matured during the dry season. Distinct strategies occur among Cecidomyiidae galls. Spiral globoid and clavate galls induced by Stephomyia spp. (Cecidomyiidae) are univoltine and occur only at the beginning of the rainy season, with emergence of leaves. Precipitation peaks influenced emergence of leaves and distinct periods of emergence of globoid, leaf‐rolling, and lenticular galls. Multivoltine life cycles occur for globoid and leaf‐rolling galls induced by Dasineura spp., lenticular Cecidomyiidae galls, and fusiform Hymenoptera galls. The different life cycles among the gall inducers allow exploitation of plant nutritional resources at different times and oviposition sites, thereby avoiding potential nutritional competition. Thus, gall inducers of E. copacabanensis exhibit strategic adjustments that enable them to occupy the same host and ensure completion of their life cycles.

Chile is characterized by high levels of endemism among its flora and fauna, yet its diverse gall-inducing organisms remain poorly studied. We describe Dasineura peumi sp. nov., a new gall-inducing midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Peumus boldus Molina (Monimiaceae), an economically significant medicinal plant native to Chile’s sclerophyllous forests. This species induces solitary or clustered fusiform galls on the stems, each housing a single larva. Morphological and phenological analyses were conducted on samples collected in the Bíobío Region of Chile in 2021 and 2022. Morphological studies revealed key diagnostic traits: antennae with 18 flagellomeres in both sexes, tarsal claws with a prominent basal tooth, as long as the empodia, and a band-like male tergite 8. The ovipositor measures 1.0-1.10 mm, approximately four times the length of the seventh tergite. Pupae are characterized by long vertical setae, very short antennal horns, a complete arrangement of facial papillae, digitiform prothoracic spiracles, and spines absent from the abdomen. Larvae possess a long spatula with two anterior teeth and an anchor-like base, a complete arrangement of lateral papillae, and eight short, uniform terminal papillae. This species has a multivoltine life cycle, with development independent of the host plant’s phenology.

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most studied Brazilian states for insect galls. Still, several municipalities lack or have few gall records. This is the case of Armação dos Búzios and Rio das Ostras. Our objective was to provide new records of insect galls, contributing to the knowledge of their richness and geographic distribution in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and consequently in Brazil. We investigated the restinga vegetation along the access road to José Gonçalves Beach in Armação dos Búzios and the vegetation of the Mirante da Baleia in Rio das Ostras during two hours in each area and photographed the host plants and galls. We identified this material and verified new records. Seven gall morphotypes are reported for the first time in the study areas. They occurred on five botanical species of five families. Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz. (Nyctaginaceae) was the only multi-host plant. Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) and Hemiptera were the gall-inducing taxa. Most galls were green, glabrous and occurred on leaves. We reported for the first time Bruggmannia elongata Maia & Couri, 1992 and Proasphondyia guapirae Maia, 1994 in Armação dos Búzios.

Five new species of Neolasioptera Felt, 1908 (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) from Brazil are described and illustrated, all are gall-inducers: N. floricola on Chromolaena laevigata (Lam.) R. M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae), N. fluminensis on Inga maritima Benth. (Fabaceae), N. hexasepali on Hexasepalum apiculatum (Willd.) Delprete & J. H. Kirkbr. (Rubiaceae), N. myriopi on Myriopus villosus Salzm. ex DC. (Heliotropiaceae), and N. rolandrae on Rolandra fruticosa (L.) Kuntze (Asteraceae). All host plants are native from Brazil, and three of them are endemic: Inga maritima, Hexasepalum apiculatum, and Myriopus villosus. The new species are compared to other Neotropical congeneric species.

Two new species of Dasineura Rondani, 1840 from Brazil are described and illustrated based on specimens from the Entomological Collection of Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ): D. capsicicola sp. nov. and D. microstachysae sp. nov. The former attacks bud flowers of Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae), a plant economically important, commonly known as sweet pepper and the latter induces leaf galls on Microstachys corniculata (Vahl.) Griseb. (Euphorbiaceae), both plant species native to Brazil. Dasineura capsicicola, has 12-13 flagellomeres in male, 12-14 in female and 8^th tergite divided longitudinally, pupa with long apical setae, long prothoracic spiracle, and dorsal spines present on the second to eighth abdominal segments, larva with two-toothed spatula without lateral projections. Dasineura microstachysae, has 15 flagellomeres in male, 14-15 in female, pupa with dorsal spines on the second to eighth abdominal segments, and larval spatula without prominent teeth. The new gall midges are compared with other congeneric Brazilian species and a key to segregate them is presented. Furthermore, the male of Dasineura tavaresi Maia, 1996 is described for the first time and label data from the holotype are corrected herein.