The present research aimed at evaluating the effects of branch growth rate in the abundance of free life herbivore insects associated with Caryocar brasiliense in three different habitats (savannah, dry forest, and pasture). In each habitat 20 trees were chosen and in each tree four branches were marked,they were monitored monthly from June to November of 2001. During the monitoring, 47 morphoespecies (four orders) were found associated with branches of C. brasiliense. Branch growth rate was significant by different, among the studied habitats. However, just in the savannah a significant relationship among the abundance of herbivores and branch growth rate was observed
Caryocar brasiliense; herbivores; insect-plant interaction
