Wasps and Figs

Figs are complex plants, and the relationship between wasps and figs is not simple. It is not common for a wasp to be inside a fig. However, there are some species that do have wasps inside of their fruit. These species are non-pollinating, and they act as parasites to the pollinating wasps.

The pollinating fig wasp has a life cycle that is a little different than other wasps. The female wasp lays eggs inside of a fig, and then dies. The male fig wasp has a similar life cycle. The male fig wasp is blind, and therefore has to mate with a female wasp before he is able to emerge from the fig. After mating, the male fig wasp dies.

The pollinating fig isp lays eggs in the ovary of some flowers, but not all. It then uses a chemical called “ficin” to break down the wasp’s exoskeleton. It uses this chemical to re-use nutrients and nourish the fig. This is why the fig is sometimes eaten by natives in Central America, who eat the sap as a treatment for intestinal worm infections.

The female fig wasp enters the fig through a tiny hole. She then burrows into the male fig and collects pollen. Then she goes to another fig and lays eggs. Her offspring feed on the flower tissues as they grow. This is why figs are often eaten by monkeys and other frugivores.

After the female fig wasp has completed her pollination duties, she leaves the fig to seek out a new home. She leaves behind the eggs inside the fig and goes to the forest to fertilize another fig.

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