Co-Evolution of Figs and Their Insect Pollinators

Wiebes, J.T.

doi:10.1146/annurev.es.10.110179.000245

Cited by 398 publications

(338 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The interaction between figs (Ficus: Moraceae) and fig pollinating wasps (Agaonidae, Chalcidoidea) represents perhaps the most tightly integrated pollination mutualism that is known ( Ramirez, 1970, Wiebes, 1979, Weiblen, 2002and Cook and Rasplus, 2003. Ficus is one of the most diverse genera of flowering plants ( Berg andWiebes, 1992 andHarrison, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The observation that related species of wasps generally pollinate related species of figs has led to the proposal of strict-sense coevolution between the two groups (Ramirez, 1974, Wiebes, 1979, Wiebes, 1982and Berg and Wiebes, 1992. However, the existing classifications of figs and their pollinators are based on characters that are often intimately involved in their mutualistic interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural and ultrastructural characterization of male reproductive tracts and spermatozoa in fig wasps of the genus Pegoscapus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

Fiorillo

Lino‐Neto

Báo

2008

Micron

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural and ultrastructural characterization of male reproductive tracts and spermatozoa in fig wasps of the genus Pegoscapus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

Fiorillo

Lino‐Neto

Báo

2008

Micron

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“…There are approximately 750 well known species in the genus Ficus L. (Moraceae) around the world, being each species intimately associated to a type of pollinator wasp from the hymenopteran family Agaonidae (Wiebes 1979, Boucek 1988. Although species of the families Pteromalidae, Torymidae and Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) had also been found associated to syconia of Ficus, the Agaonidae are the most specialized for the pollination of this plant genus (Boucek 1993).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the mechanism that determines this specificity is not clearly understood (Ware et al 1993). Although the vast majority of the well-known interactions involve a fig with a specific fig wasp, some exceptions have been recorded (Wiebes 1979). For example, two species of Agaoninae wasps, Ceratosolen arabian Mayr and Ceratosolen galili Wiebes, co-occur in Ficus sycomorus L. and in Ficus mucuso Ficalho in Africa (Wiebes 1964).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fig Wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) Associated to Ficus mexiae Standl (Moraceae) in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Schiffler¹

2002

Neotrop. Entomol.

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Vespas do Figo (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) Associadas a Ficus mexiae Standl em Lavras, Minas Gerais RESUMO -A escassez de trabalhos a respeito da fauna de vespas do figo no Brasil motivou o presente estudo, que teve como objetivo apresentar os gêneros de Agaonidae (Hymenoptera) associados a sicônios de Ficus mexiae Standl. O estudo foi conduzido em um espécime nativo de F. mexiae, situado no câmpus da Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais. Foram encontrados quatro gêneros de Agaonidae, pertencentes a três subfamílias, ocorrendo no interior dos sicônios. As vespas dos gêneros Aepocerus, Heterandrium e Idarnes não são polinizadoras e as outras duas espécies, pertencentes ao gênero Pegoscapus Cameron, são vespas polinizadoras. As espécies polinizadoras foram encontradas co-ocorrendo em vários sicônios da mesma figueira. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Aepocerus, Heterandrium, Idarnes, Pegoscapus, co-ocorrência ABSTRACT -The paucity of information on the fauna of the fig wasp inBrazil motivated the present research work, which intended to report the genera of Agaonidae that occur associated to syconia of Ficus mexiae Standl in this country. The study was conducted on one individual F. mexiae plant, located at the campus of the Federal University of Lavras, Lavras County, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Four different genera of Agaonidae, from three different subfamilies were found occurring inside the syconia. Three species from the genera Aepocerus, Heterandrium and Idarnes were nonpollinator wasps, while the other two were pollinating wasps of the genus Pegoscapus. The pollinator species were found co-occurring in many syconia of the same fig tree

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“…The system forms a remarkable plant-insect obligate mutualism (Ramirez, 1970;Galil, 1977;Wiebes, 1979). Figs also support a diverse community of non-mutualistic wasps (Compton et al 1994;Kerdelhué et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Ecology of parasiteSycophilomorphasp. onFicus altissimaand its effect on the fig-fig wasp mutualism

et al. 2010

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S U M M A R YFigs and their pollinating wasps are a classic example of an obligate mutualism. In addition, figs are parasitized by a suite of non-mutualistic wasps whose basic ecology is largely undescribed. Sycophilomorpha (subfamily Epichrysomallinae) fig wasps are ovule gallers and the genus contains only 1 described species. An undescribed Sycophilomorpha species parasitized Ficus altissima at Xishuangbana, Southwestern China. The wasp was observed ovipositing on the tiny immature figs that were still concealed beneath the involucral bracts. A Sycophilomorpha wasp oviposited on more than 1 fig and spent long time-periods to lay large clutches on a single fig. The wasps naturally occurred on all 7 sampled trees, but the occurrence of wasps was significantly different among trees, crops and months. These wasps were able to prevent unpollinated figs from being aborted, and their offspring were able to develop in the figs that otherwise had no pollinator wasps or seeds. The Sycophilomorpha wasp had a detrimental effect on the fig-fig wasp mutualism. Figs in which Sycophilomorpha wasps were present, produced significantly fewer seeds, pollinators and cheaters. However, the abundance of Sycophilomorpha in a fig was only significantly negatively correlated with pollinator production and not seed or cheater production. Our study illustrates a previously unknown fig wasp niche and expands our understanding of factors that can affect the fig-fig wasp interaction.

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Co-Evolution of Figs and Their Insect Pollinators

Cited by 398 publications

References 11 publications

Structural and ultrastructural characterization of male reproductive tracts and spermatozoa in fig wasps of the genus Pegoscapus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

Structural and ultrastructural characterization of male reproductive tracts and spermatozoa in fig wasps of the genus Pegoscapus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

Fig Wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) Associated to Ficus mexiae Standl (Moraceae) in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Ecology of parasiteSycophilomorphasp. onFicus altissimaand its effect on the fig-fig wasp mutualism

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