Fig wasps

Agaonidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Chalcidoidea
Family: Agaonidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agaonidae: //æɡəˈɒnɪdiː//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Sycoryctes philippinensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Kradibia brownii by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Eisenia mexicana by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Philotrypesis ficicola by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Froggattia polita by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Agaonidae, or fig wasps, are obligate mutualists that pollinate fig trees while developing in their galls. Their mutualistic relationship is crucial for the reproduction of many fig species.

Physical Characteristics

Females are winged and generally dark, while males are mostly wingless and whitish. Wingless males have to chew a hole for females to leave their natal fig. Females have specialized mandibular appendages to help them crawl into figs.

Identification Tips

Look for the presence of figs, as they are the habitat for these wasps. Females are recognizable by their ability to enter fig ostioles; males lack wings and have a lighter coloration.

Habitat

Agaonids develop inside the flowers of figs (Ficus species). They inhabit the syconium, which contains the flowers and serves as their breeding ground.

Distribution

The family Agaonidae comprises about 13 species in 8 genera within the US, with over 750 species in around 80 genera worldwide.

Diet

Larvae develop inside the galls that form from parasitized ovules within the figs.

Life Cycle

Life cycle includes female emergence from ripe figs, pollination of new figs, laying eggs in ovules, and male wingless emergence followed by mating with females before their exit from the fig.

Reproduction

Mating occurs within the galls of the fig. Females lay eggs inside ovules, which develop into galls supporting the larvae.

Ecosystem Role

Agaonidae are mutualistic partners of fig trees, facilitating pollination in exchange for a place to lay their eggs.

Evolution

The family Agaonidae has shown stability in its ecological niche over geologic time, with extinct forms closely resembling modern species.

Misconceptions

Some subfamilies are incorrectly grouped with Agaonidae; recent molecular studies indicate some may belong to the different family Pteromalidae.