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]
Morphology
Male Wiebesia pumilae is 3.1–3.2mm in length. Its body colour is yellow brown.[2]
Female Wiebesia pumilae is 2.0–2.8mm 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]
During the receptive stage, adult female Wiebesia pumilae are attracted by host-specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs).[1]VOCs aid adult female wasps to locate host figs. Female wasps enter figs through ostiole.[13]
↑ Bai-Wei LO; Hunrg-Yi WANG (2021-09-01). "Genetic data revealed co-diversification and host switching in the Wiebesia pumilae species complex, pollinators of Ficus pumila". Taiwania. 66 (3). doi:10.6165/tai.2021.66.345.
1 2 3 4 5 Kjellberg, F., Jousselin, E., Hossaert-McKey, M., & Rasplus, J. Y. (2005). Biology, ecology, and evolution of fig-pollinating wasps (Chalcidoidea, Agaonidae). Biology, ecology and evolution of gall-inducing arthropods, 2, 539–572.
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