Arthropods associated with bacterium galls on wisteria

Abstract

The bacterium Pantoea agglomerans pv. millettiae (=Erwinia herbicola pv. millettiae) induces galls on the trunks and twigs of Wisteria floribunda (Fabaceae) in central Japan. We sampled bacterium galls from wisteria at six sites and report a diverse arthropod community, composed of 48 species, representing 33 families and 11 orders, associated with the galls. Dominant arthropods were the larvae of Matsumuraeses falcana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and Synanthedon tenuis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) as facultative cecidophages, and Eudigraphis takakuwai takakuwai (Diplopoda: Polyxenidae) as a scavenger. The number of species, abundance of each feeding guild, and overall arthropod abundance were positively correlated with gall diameter.