Sampling Galls and Galling Arthropods

Gall-inducing insects and mites are able to manipulate plant tissues to induce galls. As galling species are sessile, their sampling is relatively easy, but many aspects must be taken into account in order to adequately characterize galling fauna. Aspects related to the adoption of the methods for field sampling, standardization of gall morphotypes, and adequate photographic record of the galls are essential for a good sampling of galling arthropods. The adequate laboratory processing of host plants, as well as the treatment of galls to obtain gallers, and the subsequent identification of galling taxa are also important aspects for studies involving plant-galling interactions.