Why Do Wasps Go in Figs?
WouterFigs are a key species used in reforestation. They are often found in Mediterranean countries. They grow in balmy climes and produce edible fruit. They emit scents to attract wasps. They are also used by natives of Central America to help treat intestinal worm infections. The fruit contains a chemical called ficin that breaks down animal proteins.
The fig wasp has a life cycle that is very closely intertwined with that of the fig tree. This wasp is part of an obligate nursery pollination mutualism. It provides pollen to the fig flower and helps develop the fruit. It is a very small insect, usually around 1.5 millimeters long. It can live in the fruit for up to two days.
It enters the fig by burrowing a narrow hole. It then proceeds to lay eggs inside the fruit. Eventually, it dies and is digested by the fig. The fig also produces a special enzyme called ficain that breaks down the female wasp’s exoskeleton.
The female wasp collects pollen from the flowers of the fig. She then carries the pollen to the internal flowers of the fig. The female wasp will then lay eggs in the fig. The eggs will hatch into larvae. These larvae will live in the fruit for up to two days before they are turned into wasps.
The female wasp’s life cycle is also closely intertwined with that of her male sibling. She first mates with a male wasp, then lays her eggs in a chamber on the fig tree. The queen wasp will then die and the eggs will be fertilized by a male wasp.
