Oviposition Behavior of Two Fig Wasp Species Associated with Ficus benjamina
Author of the article:WANG Zhen-ji1,2, SHEN Hui1, PENG Yan-qiong2, YANG Da-rong2*
Author's Workplace：(1. Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Chuxiong Normal University, Chuxiong, Yunnan Province 675000, China; 2. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650223, China)
Key Words： fig wasp; ovipositon model; ovipositor; syconium
Abstract：Oviposition behavior of two externally ovipositing non-pollinating fig wasps species: Philotrypesis sp. and Sycoscapter sp. was investigated by means of visual observation. Results indicated that both species oviposit in inter-floral phase syconia which have been oviposited in by pollinating fig wasp. Oviposition behavior of Philotrypesis sp. and Sycoscapter sp. can be generally divided into the following steps: seeking for oviposition site, piercing fig wall, ovipositing and withdrawing ovipositor. Arriving at syconium surface, foudresses of both species began seeking oviposition site by tapping syconium surface with their antenna. After ovipositon, Sycoscapter sp. foudresses withdraw their ovipositors by crawling on the fig wall, while Philotrypesis sp. foudresses could directly withdraw their ovipositor. For ovipositon site, Philotrypesis sp. foundress would fight with each other, while Sycoscapter sp. foundress did not show such behavior. The lengths of ovipositors of both species are significantly longer than the thickness of fig wall, and significantly shorter than the total thickness of ovary and fig wall, indicating both species directly pierce the floret ovary with their ovipositors when they oviposit.