Sycophaga is a mainly Afrotropical genus of fig wasps 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 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Pteromalidae |
| 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]
The genus can be characterized by having a long ovipositor, non-metallic coloration, a square mesoscutellum, and a long propodeum.[5]
Species
editThe 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 gigas Mayr, 1906
- 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
References
edit
- ^ 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. PMID 10991904.
- ^ a b Van Noort; et al. "Sycophaga Westwood". Figweb. iziko museums. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^ 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. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...738432H. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038432. PMC 3367955. PMID 22679505.
- ^ Armstrong, W.P. "Gall flowers in figs: Does The Fig Wasp Really Produce A Gall?". Wayne's Word. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^ chalcidjyr (2023). "Genus Sycophaga". iNaturalist. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
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