DISTRIBUTION OF A LEAF VEIN GALL IN Caryocar brasiliense (CARYOCARACEAE) TREE

Abstract

We studied the spatial distribution of a galling insect species that induces galls on the leaf veins of Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae) trees. Galls/leaflet predominantly occurred at the northern (1.06) tree slope, with decreasing number at the western (0.92), eastern (0.65), and southern (0.60) slopes. Higher number of galls/leaflet were found in the interior of the tree crown, i.e., on the proximal region (1.99) of the stems compared to the terminal portion (1.26). On the other hand, the average number of vein galls/leaflet did not differ statistically among the three leaflets of C. brasiliense (right = 0.79, central = 0.78, left = 0.84). Galls/leaflet were most abundant on the distal (0.46) and median (0.52) regions compared to the proximal (0.24) longitudinal region of the leaflet. This gall/leaflet insect was most frequent on the central (1.01) portion than in the leaf margin (0.05) or near mid vein (0.14) on transversal regions of a leaflet. Keywords: Savanna. Insect distribution. Leaf galls. Brazil.We studied the spatial distribution of a galling insect species that induces galls on the leaf veins of Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae) trees. Galls/leaflet predominantly occurred at the northern (1.06) tree slope, with decreasing number at the western (0.92), eastern (0.65), and southern (0.60) slopes. Higher number of galls/leaflet were found in the interior of the tree crown, i.e., on the proximal region (1.99) of the stems compared to the terminal portion (1.26). On the other hand, the average number of vein galls/leaflet did not differ statistically among the three leaflets of C. brasiliense (right = 0.79, central = 0.78, left = 0.84). Galls/leaflet were most abundant on the distal (0.46) and median (0.52) regions compared to the proximal (0.24) longitudinal region of the leaflet. This gall/leaflet insect was most frequent on the central (1.01) portion than in the leaf margin (0.05) or near mid vein (0.14) on transversal regions of a leaflet. Keywords: Savanna. Insect distribution. Leaf galls. Brazil.We studied the spatial distribution of a galling insect species that induces galls on the leaf veins of Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae) trees. Galls/leaflet predominantly occurred at the northern (1.06) tree slope, with decreasing number at the western (0.92), eastern (0.65), and southern (0.60) slopes. Higher number of galls/leaflet were found in the interior of the tree crown, i.e., on the proximal region (1.99) of the stems compared to the terminal portion (1.26). On the other hand, the average number of vein galls/leaflet did not differ statistically among the three leaflets of C. brasiliense (right = 0.79, central = 0.78, left = 0.84). Galls/leaflet were most abundant on the distal (0.46) and median (0.52) regions compared to the proximal (0.24) longitudinal region of the leaflet. This gall/leaflet insect was most frequent on the central (1.01) portion than in the leaf margin (0.05) or near mid vein (0.14) on transversal regions of a leaflet.