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Fig Pollinators At Palomar College 4
© W.P. Armstrong Updated 5 June 2025

Fig Wasps In Syconia From Unidentified Fig in Palomar College
Arboretum & Nearby Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla)

I hesitate to suggest a name for the unidentified fig because it could be one of several species in series Rubiginosae or Obliquae within section Malvanthera, subsection Platypodeae. When comparing it with figs on campus it resembles Ficus rubiginosa and F. obliqua.

     Unidentified Fig         Moreton Bay Fig  

Revelation of Nonpollinator Wasps in Syconia
of Fig Tentatively Related To Ficus rubiginosa

Several nonpollinator genera have been suggested for above wasp in photo inset, including Odontofroggatia, Sycobia and Sycophilomorpha. When syconia from other Ficus species at Palomar College are examined, other nonpollinators may be discovered.

2 Images Of Nonpollinators from Unknown Fig Syconia
(Note: Pleistodontes imperialis is a Pollinator)

Male wasp cf. Sycoscapter australis tentatively identified.

Apparently, when male wasps compete for females within the syconium they engage in violent, often fatal fights. Their wicked mandibles suggest they are adapted for more than chewing holes in syconium wall to release winged females like in other fig wasp species. Fatal fights are rare in the majority of animal species but are a common component of mate competition between wingless males of some species of fig-associated wasps. In fact, one study investigated fatal fighting in the nonpollinating wasp Sycoscapter australis, and about 25% of males sustained fatal injuries during the mate competition period.

Fig Wasps in Syconia of Ficus macrophylla Near Unidentified Fig in Arboretum

Massive trunk and surface roots of a Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) in the Palomar College Arboretum. In its native Australia it is a strangler fig.

Mature wasp-bearing syconia on Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) in the
Palomar College Arboretum. Syconia contained Pleistodontes froggatti

Pleistodontes froggatti from Moreton Bay fig and the smaller P. imperialis from nearby unidentified fig, both in the Palomar College Arboretum. I have only observed P. froggatti in Moreton Bay fig (F. macrophylla); however, P. imperialis exhibits pollinator sharing and occurs in 5 observed Ficus species, including F. rubiginosa, F. pleurocarpa, F. obliqua, F. vasta, and F. watkinsiana (at San Diego Zoo).

There are some noteworthy differences between these 2 species of Pleistodontes, including shape of head, length of scape (basal segment of antennae), & toothed, mandibular appendage below head.

Another difference between Pleistodontes froggatti and P. imperialis are the color of heads of males.