Oviposition sequence of non-pollinating fig wasps associated with Ficus benjamina in China

Abstract

Fig-fig wasp mutualisms are exploited by non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs). In most cases, NPFWs oviposit into ovaries of female flowers from outside syconia. In this study, the oviposition sequence of externally ovipositing non-pollinating fig wasps associated with Ficus benjamina were studied by direct observation, yellow sticky board and manipulation experiments in Xishuangbanna, southwest of China. The results showed that (i) Different genera of wasps showed a temporal partition in oviposition sequence among NPFWs. Acophila, Sycobia and Walkerella wasps colonized syconia in pre-female phase, while Micronisa, Philotrypesis and Sycoscapter oviposited in the interfloral phase. Further, NPFWs of the same genus also showed difference ovposition period. (ii) Different genera of wasps exhibited various strategies of resource exploitation. Acophila, Sycobia and Walkerella wasps were gallers, while Philotrypesis wasps should be inquiline. However, only the galler species Walkerella sp.2 had significant negative effective on pollinator and seed.