Ficus Macrophylla - Ecology

Ecology

In addition to the pollinating wasp, Pleistodontes froggatti, syconia of the Moreton Bay fig are host to several species of non-pollinating chalcidoid wasps including Sycoscapter australis (Pteromalidae), Eukobelea hallami (Sycophaginae) and Meselatus sp. (Epichrysomallinae). It is an important food to the fruit-eating pigeons such as the Wompoo Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus), and Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus), and a sometime food of the Rose-crowned Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus regina). Other bird species include the Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina lineata), Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina), Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti), Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris), Regent Bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus), Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), and Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii). Fruit bats such as the Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) also feed on the fruit.

The thrips species Gynaikothrips australis feeds on the underside of new leaves of F. macrophylla, as well as F. rubiginosa and F. obliqua. As plant cells die, nearby cells are induced into forming meristem tissue and a gall results, and the leaves become distorted and curl over. The thrips begin feeding when the tree has flushes of new growth, and the life cycle is around six weeks. At other times, thrips reside on old leaves without feeding. The species pupates sheltered in the bark. The thrips remain in the galls at night and wander about in the daytime and return in the evening, possibly to different galls about the tree.