Systematics of Bruggmanniella Tavares 1909 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Abstract

Cecidomyiidae is one of the most diverse families of the order Diptera. There are more than 6,203 species described in the world distributed in 736 genera. Cecidomyiidae is organised into six subfamilies: Catotrichinae, Lestremiinae, Micromyinae, Winnertziinae, Porricondylinae, and Cecidomyiinae. In this subfamily, there are varieties of habits, from mycophagous, gallers, or inquilines to predators of aphids. However, the predominant habit in this family is the gall habit. Midges are organisms that induce the formation of galls which are atypical structures found in portions of the tissues or organs of the plant in response to stimulation of inducing organisms, usually an insect. Bruggmanniella Tavares 1909 has 11 species in Nearctic, Oriental and Neotropical regions. Eight species are only found in Neotropical region. Despite the efforts of Brazilian researchers in the last two decades, many studies also show that the Neotropical region is one of the richest in species of midges and one of the least known. This work, which is part of the Sisbiota-Diptera Program (CNPq, Proc. No. 563.256/2010-9/ FAPESP, Proc. No. 2010/52.314-0), will be executed phylogenetic analysis of the genus Bruggmanniella Tavares 1909, by studying the species already described, beyond description and inclusion in the analysis of a new species collected in Mato Grosso. The type-specimens will have their morphology schematized and it will be used to construct the array of characters and cladistics analysis. (AU)