Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Figs & Wasps
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May 14, 2025 Discover the fascinating symbiotic relationship between figs and fig wasps, which dates back 60 million years. Learn how some fig varieties rely on these wasps for pollination and the surprising fact that eating figs means consuming wasp remains! A lively debate unfolds around the existence of male and female fig trees and the complexities of their pollination. Ethical questions arise regarding food consumption and the USDA's insect standards. Plus, enjoy quirky stories about farmers managing wasp populations for optimal fig growth!
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Symbiotic Evolution of Fig Wasps & Figs
- Fig wasps and specific figs evolved together over 60 million years in a mutual symbiotic relationship.
- The fig relies on the wasp for reproduction, and the wasp relies on the fig to lay eggs, each requiring the other to survive.
Edible Fig is an Inverted Flower
- The edible fig is an inverted flower structure called a synconium, not a true fruit.
- Female wasps enter the fig, lose their wings, die inside, and are digested by the fig's enzymes.
Wasp Sacrifices for Pollination
- Female wasps emerge from male figs after mating with wingless males who never leave.
- They pollinate female figs but often cannot lay eggs there, sacrificing themselves to fertilize the plant.