01/04/25: While I was watering my plants in the evening, I could notice ‘ball’ like growths on the leaves of my neighbour’s Ficus racemosa (Cluster fig; Family: Moraceae)
Date: 1/04/25; 5.25pm
Location: Nallalam, Kozhikode (11.2588° N,
75.7804° E)
Photo: Ayana Sudheer
Galls are abnormal growths that occur on leaves, twigs, roots, or flowers of many plants. Most galls are caused by irritation and/or stimulation of plant cells due to feeding or egg-laying by insects such as aphids, midges, wasps, or mites. Some galls are the result of infections by bacteria, fungi, or nematodes.
caused by bacteria, fungi, or insects.
I was so curious to know what causes these galls on ficus. I plucked leaves with galls and observed it closer. I could see all the ‘round growths’ were not of the same size and colour. There were green to red and reddish brown galls on the upper side of the leaves. I cut open them to see if there is anything inside. But it was hollow. I couldn’t spot anything.
Date: 1/04/25; 5.30pm
Location: Nallalam, Kozhikode (11.2588° N,
75.7804° E)
Photo: Ayana
Fig. 1. ‘Normal’ leaves of ficus, Fig. 2. The lower side of the leaf with galls. We can see openings, Fig. 3. Inside of the gall, Fig. 4,5. green, reddish brown, woody galls
I became a regular visitor to the tree!
Tracking a tree is really fun and exciting💚
I observed the fruit, stems of the tree but no abnormal growths are noted. I could spot more leaf galls.
I dissected leaf galls and to my surprise, I could see a larvae (~0.4cm)
03/04/25; 1.05pm
Location: Nallalam, Kozhikode
Photo: Ayana
03/04/25; 1.05pm
Location: Nallalam, Kozhikode
Photo: Ayana
Gall-inducing insects are specialist plant feeders with most species confined to one specific host plant. Galls are atypical plant growths that provide nourishment, shelter and protection to the inducer or its progeny. Gall-inducing insects – Nature's most sophisticated herbivores - ScienceDirect
Nature’s most sophisticated herbivores??