Are Figs Dead Wasps?
WouterFigs are a delicious fruit that is often sold as a dessert. However, not all figs are edible. Some are sold as a base for jams and other confectionery. Some figs are sold as inedible fruits, but they are not poisonous.
While figs do contain wasps, they are not the same as dead wasps. In fact, figs produce a chemical called ficin, which breaks down wasp bodies. In fact, figs are eaten and used to treat intestinal worm infections.
Some figs are self-pollinating, which means that they do not require wasp pollination. However, some figs require pollination in order to ripen. Some figs also have non-pollinating wasps that act as parasites.
Female fig wasps lay eggs inside figs. These eggs develop into fig grubs. The grubs emerge from the seeds in a couple of weeks. The grubs are then carried to another fig. After mating, the male fig grub dies inside the fig.
Some people think that figs are dead wasps. But this is not true. A dead wasp is actually inside the fig. The exoskeleton of the wasp is broken down by the fig enzyme ficin, so that it can be eaten.
The chemical ficin also adds flavour to ripened figs. There are many different species of figs. Ficus carica is one of the most common wild figs. It is listed in the FDA Database of Poisonous Plants, but it is not toxic. It is eaten by natives in Central America.
