Species Richness of Galling Arthropods in Manaus, Amazon and the Surroundings of the Iguassu Falls

Abstract

We sueveyed the species richness of galling arthropods in Iguassu and Manaus in 2000 and found at least 109 sorts of arthropod gall. The species in Brazil has been supporting the microenvironment hypothesis, in which the galling habit is considered to be adaptive ti dry areas. However, our data in Iguassu and Amazon, as well as the previous data in Indonesia and Japan, revealed that the galling species richness was considerably high in humid environments. Host plant species richness was considered to be an alternative explanation for the high galling species richness in humid areas.