Do All Figs Need Wasps?
WouterFigs are sweet edible fruit. They are often sold in jams or as the base of desserts. They have a crunchy texture because of the seeds. Some people are allergic to figs.
Some varieties of figs do not require wasps to ripen. These varieties are called non-wasp figs. These varieties are grown in commercial agriculture. Farmers do not want to have to buy a lot of new wasps each year. Instead, they can close a fig in a net to keep the wasps out.
Many varieties of figs require pollination. Pollination is an intricate process. First, a female wasp collects pollen from the male flowers. These pollen particles are then distributed to the internal flowers of a fig. The female then lays eggs inside the fig. The eggs hatch into larvae. Once the larvae develop, the wasps exit the fig. They have a life mission. They must fertilize the females before they ripen.
Female fig wasps are tiny. They are just a few millimeters long. They are golden brown in color. They belong to the family Agaonidae. They live in forests and in urban areas. They are known for their ability to pollinate 900 species of figs. They are native to Australia.
Fig wasps are found in native Australian fig trees. They have adapted to figs over 65 million years. They have a life cycle that is different for different species of figs. Each species has its own wasp species.
