Editing Melaleuca (section)

==Ecology==
Melaleucas are mostly pollinated by insects, including the introduced honey bee (''[[Apis mellifera]]''), flies, beetles, wasps and [[thrips]]. Birds such as [[Loriini|lorikeets]] and [[honeyeater]]s as well as [[bats]] often visit the flowers and are probably also pollinators.<ref name="Craven">{{cite book |last1=Brophy |first1=Joseph J. |last2=Craven |first2=Lyndley A. |last3=Doran |first3=John C. |title=Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses |date=2013 |publisher=Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research |location=Canberra |isbn=9781922137517}}</ref>{{rp|23}}<ref name="Hawkeswood">{{cite journal |last1=Hawkeswood |first1=Trevor J. |title=Jewel beetles as pollinators of ''Melaleuca pauperiflora'' F.Muell. between Eucla (W.A.) and Koonalda (S.A.) |journal=The Western Australian Naturalist |date=1980 |volume=14 |pages=238–239 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/273338#page/260/mode/1up |access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref>

Some species of ''Melaleuca'', especially ''[[Melaleuca alternifolia|M. alternifolia]]'', are cultivated for the production of tea tree oil, and in plantations are susceptible to a number of insect pests. The most significant of these is the [[Leaf beetle|chrysomelid]] ''[[Paropsisterna tigrina]]'', but other [[beetle]]s, [[cutworm]] caterpillars (''[[Agrotis|Agrotis species]]''), [[Jumping plant louse|psyllids]], mole crickets (''[[Gryllotalpa]]''), and others cause significant damage. More than 100 species of insects are known to feed on melaleucas. Native stands have fewer predators, but tea tree [[sawfly]] (''[[Pterygophorus]]'' species) and [[Longhorn beetle|longicorn beetles]] are often found.<ref name=Southwell(3)>{{cite book|last1=Campbell|first1=A.J.|last2=Maddox|first2=C.D.A.|editor-last=Southwell|editor-first=Ian|editor2-last=Lowe|editor2-first=Robert|title=Tea tree : The genus Melaleuca|date=1999|publisher=Harwood Academic|location=Amsterdam|isbn=9057024179|page=169}}</ref> The scale insect ''[[Beesonia ferrugineus]]'' forms round, fluffy-looking galls on branches of several ''Melaleuca'' species.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beesonia ferrugineus |url=http://scalenet.info/catalogue/Beesonia%20ferrugineus/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=scalenet.info}}</ref>

Melaleucas are also susceptible to myrtle rust (''[[Puccinia psidii]]'') which can result in damage to soft plant material and the death of highly susceptible hosts. Myrtle rust is common in eastern Australia, including [[Tasmania]] and has been detected in the [[Tiwi Islands]].<ref name="DPI">{{cite web|title=Myrtle rust|url=http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust|publisher=South Wales Government Department of Primary Industries|access-date=29 June 2016|archive-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626060535/http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/content/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Invasive species===
{{Main|Melaleuca quinquenervia#Status in the United States}}
''[[Melaleuca quinquenervia]]'' (broad-leaved paperbark) is the most damaging of 60 exotic species introduced to the [[Florida]] [[Everglades]] to help drain low-lying swampy areas. Introduced in the early 20th century, it has become a serious [[invasive species]], with damaging effects including the displacement of native species, reduction in wildlife habitat, alteration of hydrology, modification of soil, and changes in fire regimes.<ref name=Florida(1)>{{cite web|last1=Mazzotti|first1=Frank J.|last2=Center|first2=Ted D.|last3=Dray|first3=F. Allen|last4=Thayer|first4=Dan|title=Ecological consequences of invasion by ''Melaleuca quinquenervia'' in south Florida wetlands: Paradise damaged, not lost|url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw123|access-date=8 May 2015|archive-date=2 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502210344/http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw123|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Florida(2)>{{cite web|last1=Langeland|first1=K.A.|title=Help protect Florida's natural areas from non-native invasive plants|url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag108|publisher=University of Florida|access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref><ref name=Smithsonian>{{cite web|title=''Melaleuca quinquenervia''|url=http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Melaleuca_quinquenervia.htm|publisher=Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce|access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> The tree's perseverance in the face of efforts to eradicate it has earned it the nickname "punktree".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreu |first=Michael |last2=Friedman |first2=Melissa |last3=McKenzie |first3=Mary |last4=Quintana |first4=Heather |date=February 22, 2022 |title=Melaleuca quinquenervia, Melaleuca |url=https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR319 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=askifas}}</ref>