Sycophaga

Sycophaga is a mainly Afrotropical gall wasp genus of the family Chalcidoidea that live on the section Sycomorus of the monoecious[1] fig subgenus, Sycomorus,[2] and one of several fig wasp genera to exploit its mutualism with Ceratosolen wasps.[3]

Sycophaga
Sycophaga sp., adult females on F. sur
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Agaonidae
Subfamily: Sycophaginae
Genus: Sycophaga
Westwood, 1840
Type species
Sycophaga sycomori
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Species

See text

They enter the fig during the receptive phase of development, and oviposit inside the short-style flowers. This induces the growth of endosperm tissue and the enlargement and ripening of the syconium which holds the wasp-bearing drupelets, without pollination taking place.[4]

Species

The described species include:[2]

  • Sycophaga afflicta Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga callani Grandi, 1955
  • Sycophaga cyclostigma Waterston, 1916
  • Sycophaga depressa Risbec, 1956
  • Sycophaga gigantea Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga insularis Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga silvestrii Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga sycomori Linnaeus, 1758
  • Sycophaga tenebrosa Grandi, 1917
  • Sycophaga valentinae Grandi, 1952
  • Sycophaga vicina Mayr, 1906
  • Sycophaga viduata Grandi, 1916
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References
  1. Weiblen, George D. (September 2000). "Phylogenetic relationships of functionally dioecious FICUS (Moraceae) based on ribosomal DNA sequences and morphology". American Journal of Botany. 87 (9): 1342–1357. doi:10.2307/2656726. JSTOR 2656726. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  2. Van Noort; et al. "Sycophaga Westwood". Figweb. iziko museums. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  3. Harrison, Rhett D.; et al. (5 June 2012). "Evolution of Fruit Traits in Ficus Subgenus Sycomorus (Moraceae): To What Extent Do Frugivores Determine Seed Dispersal Mode?". PLOS One. 7 (6): e38432. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038432. PMC 3367955. PMID 22679505.
  4. Armstrong, W.P. "Gall flowers in figs: Does The Fig Wasp Really Produce A Gall?". Wayne's Word. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
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