Wayne's Word Index Noteworthy Plants Trivia Lemnaceae Biology 101 Botany Scenic Wildflowers Trains Spiders & Insects Search  INDICES:   Trivia Notes   Alien Species   Humorous   Remember When   All Facebook Notes   Wayne's Trivia Notes #45   © W.P. Armstrong    All Facebook Notes & Images    Published Occasionally On Facebook Go To Latest Trivia Note On This Page Wayne's Trivia Note #954 The smallest fig wasps I have ever seen. They pollinate host tree, Indian laurel fig (Ficus microcarpa), producing seeds & seedlings on Palomar College campus. In fact, this Asian species is considered to be invasive in southern Calif. Its spreading root system can buckle pavement & damage underground utilities. Wayne's Trivia Note #955 Richard Dawkins said figs & their symbiotic wasps are the most complex of his fascinating stories. My obsession with this topic began about 40 years ago teaching botany at Palomar. I always thought each of the 876 fig species had its own wasp. New evidence indicates there may be more than one symbiotic wasp per fig. In fact, some wasps may exibit "host sharing" visiting multiple fig species. This might be happening on Palomar campus! All text material & images on these pages copyright © W.P. Armstrong