Representatividade do gênero Lopesia Rübsaamen (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) no Brasil

Abstract

Twenty-three species of Lopesia Rübsaamen (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) are known, all as gall inducers. Most part is Neotropical, also represented in the Nearctic, Afrotropical, and Australasian. The diversity of the genus in Brazil is surveyed based on literature and data from the Cecidomyiidae collection of Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. The genus is represented in Brazil by 23 species (18 described and 5 not determined), which means 78% of the total of the described species and 95% of the Neotropical fauna. These data show that Lopesia is a well represented genus in Brazil. The majority of the species (78%) induces leaf galls, bud and stem are other galled plant organs. The species are associated with ten plant families, being more common on Burseraceae, Clusiaceae, and Fabaceae. Most part was collected in Atlantic Forest, mainly in "restinga" areas, and Rio de Janeiro supports the greatest number of recorded species. The geographic distribution of three species is widened.