Fig Wasp
Fig wasps are named after fig trees, they are a diverse group of wasps that are known for their unique relationship with fig trees. Figs are responsible for pollinating fig trees, and in return, the figs provide food and shelter for the wasps.
The relationship between figs and fig wasps is a mutualistic one, meaning that both species benefit from the interaction. The fig tree provides a protected environment for the wasps to lay their eggs, and the figs provide a source of food for the developing wasp larvae.
Appearance:-
Fig wasps can vary depending upon the species, but in general, they are small, usually measuring less than 5 millimetres in length. They are typically brown, black or yellow with a shiny or matte appearance.
They have slender, elongated bodies with narrow waists, and their wings are transparent and veined. Their antennae are usually long and thin, and their eyes are often large and prominent. Females have a long ovipositor, which they use to lay eggs inside the fig fruit.
Habits and Life Cycle of Fig Wasps:
The habits and life cycle of fig wasps can vary depending on the species, but the following is a general overview.
- The female fig wasp enters the fig fruit, which is actually an enclosed inflorescence called a syconium. She may also carry pollen from another fig tree, which she uses to pollinate the flowers inside the syconium.
- The female fig wasp lays her eggs inside the syconium, often using her long ovipositor to insert them into the female flowers. She may also deposit some of the pollen she brought with her, which fertilizes the flowers and allows the fig fruit to develop.
- The egg hatch into larvae, which feed on the developing seeds inside the fig fruit. As they grow, they also produce chemicals that help to maintain the ring’s unique internal environment.
- Once the larvae have matured, they pupate inside the fig fruit, forming a cocoon around themselves.
- Adult fig wasps emerge from their cocoons and mate inside the fruit. Males have wings and are able to fly out of the syconium, but females have shorter wings and are generally unable to fly.
- The males leave the fig fruit to search for another fig syconium where they can mate with females from a different fig wasp generation. The females will either stay inside the syconium to lay their eggs, or they may be carried out by a male to a new syconium.
- The life cycle begins again when the female fig wasps enter a new fig syconium to lay her eggs.
Overall, fig wasps are adapted to living and reproducing inside fig fruits, and they play an important role in pollinating fig trees and ensuring the development of fig fruits.
Book A Professional Team for Fig Wasp Removal
As not all locations may be suitable for the wasp treatment process, you can risk getting hurt if you try to enter any of these regions on your own. We start by determining the kind of wasps that require treatment. The method of wasp treatment varies depending on the species of wasp. Once the wasp has been located, we will suggest a course of treatment to you. You can book a professional wasp removal Perth team with us.