Do Wasps Really Die in Figs?

Figs are usually grown in warm, balmy climates. The fig tree was among the first food plants cultivated by humans. Its fruit is known to adorn cheese plates from Texas to Tasmania.

In the past, many people have questioned the question, “do wasps really die in figs?” In some cases, it may be true. In others, the fig tree has a chemical that breaks down the wasp’s body, so it is absorbed back into the fruit. However, figs and wasps have a mutualistic relationship that allows them to survive.

The fig has a lot to offer, including pollination. While some figs are pollinated by bees, others don’t. In some cases, fig trees have evolved to keep some ovaries inaccessible to wasps. They do this by producing an enzyme, called ficin, that dissolves the wasp’s body. This enzyme re-uses nutrients to nourish the fig.

The fig’s most impressive attribute may be the fact that it can produce a special chemical that breaks down a wasp’s exoskeleton. The chemical ficain can break down protein, so the fig tree can produce edible fruit.

However, the fig tree can’t produce fruit without wasps. They are necessary to produce fruit. And they play a crucial ecological role in the fig’s lifecycle.

The fig has a lot of other tricks up its sleeve, too. The female fig wasp can collect pollen from dead fig partners, so it can pass the pollen on to new female figs. However, it can’t lay eggs in the female fig. It can, however, lay eggs in the male fig.

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