CAPRIFICATION - A UNIQUE INSECT PLANT CORRELATION

Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from anther to receptive stigma. Entomophily is the pollination aided by insects like coleopterans, dipterans, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. Fig wasps belonging to super family Chalcidoidea aids in transfer of pollen from inedible male caprifig to edible Smyrna-types fruit figs known as Caprification. Female fig wasps complete its life cycle within the plant and after emergence leave the fig tree in search of another fig tree to continue the reproductive cycle. Fig wasps enter into the Smyrna fig florets through ostiole for oviposition and facilitate pollination. The florets with long styles than the wasp's ovipositor get pollinated, and hence these florets set seed. Once the wasps reach maturity chews it way out from the galls through exit holes and emerges after mating with male. The females carry pollen and visit other young receptive figs to complete the life cycle.