A classic example of plant–animal interactions, galls are atypical structures that are formed on plants but provide nourishment and protection to the inducer organism and/or its progeny. Gall-inducing insects belong to a widely diverse group approximating about 13,000 species that can re-direct plant growth and physiology to their advantage, the exact mechanisms behind which are still unknown. The fig tree and its associated community of galling fig-wasps provide us a platform for studying the different potential stimuli contributing to gall induction. Additionally, the numerous wasp species with very different life history traits allow us to compare the different strategies that are employed by different gallers in a single syconium, all restricted by the same resource patch. We also hope to gain insights into nutrient flow in plants with special reference to how the fig tree controls the allocation of nutrients to different modules and how far does an associated fig-wasp override plant control in order to draw nutrients. The presence of both mutualist and cheater fig-wasps in the same fig elevates the conflict as the fig tree is expected to punish overexploitation without eliminating the mutualistic benefits.