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Fig Wasps

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nature2 years ago

The Truth About Eating Figs and Dead Wasps.

The relationship between figs and fig wasps is an example of obligate mutualism, as neither can complete their life cycle without the other. Female fig wasps crawl inside immature figs to lay their eggs and pollinate the flowers. Male fig wasps hatch inside the fruit and fertilize their sisters before dying and being absorbed by the fig. However, there are some fig varieties that don't require wasp-facilitated fertilization. While it's true that figs contain dead wasps, they are broken down by an enzyme and are not present in the ripe fruit.