Abstract: Fig/fig pollinator mutualistic systems are exploited by non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs). Within a syconium, pollinators and non-pollinators are interacting with each other in high-density populations. We studied 5 species in the syconia of Ficus semicordata including the pollinator Ceratosolen gravely I, and NPFWs Apocrypta sp., Philotrypesis dunia, Platyneura cunia and Sycoscapter trifemmensis. These fig wasps lay eggs into a syconium in a strict oviposition timing, for occupying the diverse niches, which reflect their different biological traits. The population size of the single non-pollinating fig wasp (NPFW) species hardly shows the negative correlations with pollinator' s. The total population size of all NPFWs is positively correlated to the pollinator's. It might be the evolutionary adaptation for coexistence of the many species within a syconium.

Key words: Ficus, fig wasps, oviposition, oviposition timing, species coexistence