Valéria Cid Maia

Bio: Valéria Cid Maia is an academic researcher from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cecidomyiidae & Gall. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 144 publications receiving 1785 citations. Previous affiliations of Valéria Cid Maia include National Council for Scientific and Technological Development & AmeriCorps VISTA.

Are gall midge species (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) host-plant specialists?

Abstract: Despite the speciose fauna of gall-inducing insects in the Neotropical region, little is known about their taxonomy. On the other hand, gall morphotypes associated with host species have been extensively used as a surrogate of the inducer species worldwide. This study reviewed the described gall midges and their galls to test the generalization on the use of gall morphotypes as surrogates of gall midge species in the Brazilian fauna. We compiled taxonomic and biological data for 196 gall midge species recorded on 128 host plant species. Ninety two percent of those species were monophagous, inducing galls on a single host plant species, whereas only 5.6% species were oligophagous, inducing galls on more than one congeneric host plant species. Only four species induced galls on more than one host plant genus. We conclude that gall morphotypes associated with information on the host plant species and attacked organs are reliable surrogates of the gall-inducing species.

The gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) from three restingas of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Abstract: One hundred and eight species of Cecidomyiinae (Cecidomyiidae) were found in association with 53 species of plant distributed among 42 genera and 32 families at restingas of Barra de Marica, Itaipuacu and Carapebus. Ninety four gall midge species were cecidogenous, four predaceous, five inquilinous of galls and five were free living. Galling species were associated with 47 plant species belonging to 36 genera and 28 families. The majority of the galls occurred on the leaves (N = 63); 13 on buds; nine on inflorescence, closed flower or flower peduncle; three on fruits and one on tendril. Myrtaceae were the richest plant family in number of galls followed by Burseraceae, Nyctaginaceae, Sapotaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Malpighiaceae and Solanaceae. New records of host plants and localities were recorded. Seventy nine Cecidomyiinae species were found at Restinga of Barra de Marica, 64 at Carapebus and 41 at Itaipuacu. Sorensen's index revealed that the restingas of Barra de Marica and Itaipuacu ate more similar in Cecidomyiinae fauna, confirming a positive relation between geographical proximity and fauna similarity.

Insect galls from Serra de São José (Tiradentes, MG, Brazil)

Abstract: One hundred thirty-seven morphotypes of insect galls were found on 73 plant species (47 genera and 30 families) in Serra de Sao Jose, in Tiradentes, MG, Brazil. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, and Melastomataceae were the plant families that supported most of the galls (49.6% of the total). Galls were mostly found on leaves and stems (66.4% and 25.5%, respectively). Galls were induced by Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha), Hymenoptera, and Thysanoptera. The majority of them (73.7%) were induced by gall midges (Cecidomyiidae: Diptera). Besides the gall inducers, other insects found associated with the galls were parasitoids (Hymenoptera), inquilines (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera), and predators (Diptera).

Ocorrência e caracterização de galhas de insetos em áreas de restinga de Bertioga (São Paulo, Brasil)

Abstract: Studies on entomogenous galls at restinga areas in the State of Sao Paulo are very scarce, and the diversity of galling insects is completely unknown in these areas. In this study, we investigated restinga environments in Bertioga (S.P.) in order to contribute to the knowledge of the galls and the taxonomy of the galling insects in this State. Two hundred thirty three kinds of insect gall were found on 123 plant species and 48 families. The Myrtaceae and Asteraceae showed the greatest number of attacked species (14 and 13, respectively) and the greatest richness of galls (31 and 29, respectively). Most galls (about 60%) were observed on leaves. Galls of Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera e Thysanoptera were found, being the majority (about 57%) induced by Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). Other dwellers were found in 117 kinds of gall (about 50%): inquilinous; sucessors; predators and parasitoids. Among them, the parasitoids and the inquilinous were the most frequent ones. The parasitoids belong to eigth families of Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae, Platygastridae, Pteromalidae, Torymidae, Braconidae, Encyrtidae, Mymaridae and Eupelmidae, being the first three the most frequent ones. The inquilinous belong to five insect orders: Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Thysanoptera, being the Diptera the most frequent.

Ocorrencia e caracterizacao de galhas de insetos na Restinga de Grumari (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil)

Abstract: Fourty-three morphologically different galls induced by species of five orders of insects were found (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera) on 25 plant species (21 genera and 19 families). The Diptera (Cecidomyiidae) were the most frequent gall inducers, while Myrtaceae and Erythroxylaceae were the plant families with the highest richness of galls. Most of galls occurred on leaves. Eigth new records of association between gall inducer and host plant are presented and the galling species on the leaves of Pouteria psammophyla (Mart.) Radlk. (Sapotaceae) is identified for the first time: Lopesia singularis Maia, 2001. All records are new for the locality of Grumari

Are gall midge species (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) host-plant specialists?

Abstract: Despite the speciose fauna of gall-inducing insects in the Neotropical region, little is known about their taxonomy. On the other hand, gall morphotypes associated with host species have been extensively used as a surrogate of the inducer species worldwide. This study reviewed the described gall midges and their galls to test the generalization on the use of gall morphotypes as surrogates of gall midge species in the Brazilian fauna. We compiled taxonomic and biological data for 196 gall midge species recorded on 128 host plant species. Ninety two percent of those species were monophagous, inducing galls on a single host plant species, whereas only 5.6% species were oligophagous, inducing galls on more than one congeneric host plant species. Only four species induced galls on more than one host plant genus. We conclude that gall morphotypes associated with information on the host plant species and attacked organs are reliable surrogates of the gall-inducing species.

The gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) from three restingas of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Abstract: One hundred and eight species of Cecidomyiinae (Cecidomyiidae) were found in association with 53 species of plant distributed among 42 genera and 32 families at restingas of Barra de Marica, Itaipuacu and Carapebus. Ninety four gall midge species were cecidogenous, four predaceous, five inquilinous of galls and five were free living. Galling species were associated with 47 plant species belonging to 36 genera and 28 families. The majority of the galls occurred on the leaves (N = 63); 13 on buds; nine on inflorescence, closed flower or flower peduncle; three on fruits and one on tendril. Myrtaceae were the richest plant family in number of galls followed by Burseraceae, Nyctaginaceae, Sapotaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Malpighiaceae and Solanaceae. New records of host plants and localities were recorded. Seventy nine Cecidomyiinae species were found at Restinga of Barra de Marica, 64 at Carapebus and 41 at Itaipuacu. Sorensen's index revealed that the restingas of Barra de Marica and Itaipuacu ate more similar in Cecidomyiinae fauna, confirming a positive relation between geographical proximity and fauna similarity.

Illustrated and annotated checklist of Brazilian gall morphotypes.

Abstract: The analysis on nine inventories on the richness and diversity of galling herbivores in Brazil accounted for 806 gall systems occurring in 443 host-plant species from 74 plant families This checklist of the Brazilian gall morphotypes proposes seven standardized morphotypes and five additional shapes that group the majority of the three-dimensional shapes reported in literature Criteria are proposed to standardize the terminology, and a critical analysis is provided aiming to avoid possible inconsistencies in order to generate easily comparable data in future inventories The morphotypes are herein catalogued in alphabetical order, accompanied by a conceptual definition, an illustration, and examples that best represent the shape It is proposed that the inventories should present at least the (1) host-plant species, (2) galling herbivore species or its identification to the lowest possible taxonomic level, (3) host-plant galled organ and gall position, (4) gall morphotype, (5) gall color and registration of indumentum when present, (6) gall phenological and developmental data, (7) association with other trophic levels, and (8) additional information, such as dimension, and number of chamber(s)

Insect galls from Serra de São José (Tiradentes, MG, Brazil)

Abstract: One hundred thirty-seven morphotypes of insect galls were found on 73 plant species (47 genera and 30 families) in Serra de Sao Jose, in Tiradentes, MG, Brazil. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, and Melastomataceae were the plant families that supported most of the galls (49.6% of the total). Galls were mostly found on leaves and stems (66.4% and 25.5%, respectively). Galls were induced by Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha), Hymenoptera, and Thysanoptera. The majority of them (73.7%) were induced by gall midges (Cecidomyiidae: Diptera). Besides the gall inducers, other insects found associated with the galls were parasitoids (Hymenoptera), inquilines (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera), and predators (Diptera).