Wiebesia pumilae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wiebesia pumilae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Agaonidae |
| Genus: | Wiebesia |
| Species: | W. pumilae |
| Binomial name | |
| Wiebesia pumilae (Hill, 1967) | |
Wiebesia pumilae is a fig wasp species in the genus Wiebesia, Family Agaonidae. W. pumilae is the pollinator of Ficus pumila var. awkeotsang (Jelly Fig) and Ficus pumila var. pumila (Creeping Fig).[1] The scientific name was first published as Blastophaga pumilae in 1967 by Hill.[2]
W. pumilae is found in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.[2][3] There are three species of pollinators of Ficus pumila: Wiebesia pumilae sp.1, Wiebesia pumilae sp.2, Wiebesia pumilae sp.3.[4]
Male Wiebesia pumilae is 3.1–3.2 mm in length. Its body colour is yellow brown.[2]
Female Wiebesia pumilae is 2.0–2.8 mm in length, with forward ovipositor. Its body colour is dark brown with yellowish tibiae and tarsi.[2]
Pollination
The relationship of fig and fig wasp is a classic example of obligate mutualism and coevolution. Only pollinating wasps pollinate the figs, while fig wasps only lay their eggs inside the fig ovules.[5][6]
Jelly fig pollinating W. pumilae are different from Creeping fig pollinating W. pumilae in gene expression.[7] The genetic incompatibility can be caused by altitudinal adaptations, since jelly fig and creeping fig prefer different habitat altitudes.[8]
Creeping fig wasps can enter receptive female Jelly fig syconia and bear seeds, but they cannot enter its male syconia.[1] Jelly fig wasps can enter both receptive female Creeping fig syconia and bear seeds and can oviposit there as well.[1]
