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Fig and fig wasp life cycle

(Life; Embryophyta (plants); Angiospermae (flowering plants); Eudicotyledons; Order: Rosales; Family: Moraceae; Genus: Ficus)

Interaction of figs and fig wasps
Figs exhibit two life cycle strategies. About half the species are monoecious and the other half are gynodioecious (functionally dioecious with male and female reproductive functions separated between individual trees).

Monoecious life cycle

Dioecious life cycle

Non-pollinating fig wasps

Credits

Illustrations and photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums of Cape Town) and Jean-Yves Rasplus (INRA)

 

Web authors Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

and Jean-Yves Rasplus (INRA, France)

Copyright 2004-2009 Iziko Museums of Cape Town