How does the life cycle of Clinodiplosis profusa (Cecidomyiidae) adjust to phenological variations of the host plant Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae) in sun and shade?

Galls are plant neoformations induced by specialized parasites. Since gall inducers rely on reactive plant sites for gall development, variations in abiotic factors that affect plant phenology are expected to impact the life cycle of gall inducers. To test the hypothesis that different light conditions affect both host plant and gall inducer life cycles, we studied the system Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae) - Clinodiplosis profusa (Cecidomyiidae), comparing plants occurring in sunny and shaded environments.

Sexually dimorphic galls induced on leaflets of Matayba guianensis (Sapindaceae): a rare phenomenon occurring in Diptera (Cecidomyiidae).

In a general way, galling insects can induce only one gall morphotype on the host plant species. However, some taxa of galling insects such as Eriococcidae can induce sexually dimorphic galls on the same host. In the present study, Lopesia mataybae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) induced two gall morphotypes on the leaflets of Matayba guianensis (Sapindaceae), a rare evidence of sexual dimorphism in galls induced by Cecidomyiidae.