Do arthropods affect the production of fruits on Hancornia speciosa (Gomes) (Apocynaceae) trees?

Hancornia speciosa (Apocynaceae) trees are valuable for several communities that survive from collecting their fruits. However, H. speciosa is threatened due to the increasing deforestation in the Brazilian Cerrado. This study aimed to identify the loss and solution sources, and their importance in terms of loss or income gain on H. speciosa trees applying the Percentage of Importance Indice (% I.I.). The % I.I. separated the loss sources [e.g., sap-sucking Phenacoccus madeirensis on leaves = 46.25%)] on the percentage of reduction of fruit production (e.g., 0.004%), calculated the attention level (e.g., 0.0937/leaf), with a total lost production of 0.02% (≈ 24 total lost fruits). The solution sources spiders, predator thrips Holopothrips sp., and Chrysoperla sp. showed the highest % I.I. on H. speciosa trees, increasing system productivity by 0.01% (≈ 16 total saved fruits). Spiders were the most important predator group, saving 13 fruits (I.G.=0.009%) and the tending ants reduced around 0.19 fruits (I.G.=-0.0003%). The loss sources and ants are not harmful to H. speciosa trees on the natural system - Cerrado, but, in future commercial crops (e.g., monoculture), they can cause significant damages to fruit production.