Animals in the Community - Nature and Structure of Community

The animals in the community are directly or indirectly dependent on the plants also time their activities in such a manner that it coincides with the maximum activity of plants. For example, associated with the tree Terminalia arjuna is a psyllid (an insect) Trioza fletcheri minor. This insect forms galls on the leaves and flowers of this plant.

During the season, when the plant puts on new leaves, this psyllid too grows actively. If forms new galls on the young, tender plant parts. The young ones of the insects develop in the galls thus formed. This example shows how the insect has timed its reproductive phase with that of the plant. It also shows the association of an insect with a plant. But in nature there are instances, where more than one species of insects and other organisms are associated with a species of plant.