106 THE FIG: ITS HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CURING. 
they may possibly feed themselves for a short time (though it is doubt- 
ful if they do feed at all), they could not possibly deposit their eggs 
elsewhere than in the ‘‘ gall flower” of their respective fig, not even in 
the female flowers of the same fig. Even if they did succeed in doing 
so, their eggs would not develop elsewhere and the brood would soon 
perish. The species would thus become extinet. but this is not all. 
The relation between the fig and the Blastophagas is so intimate that 
in order to foster these little wasps nature provides the fig with flowers 
especially constructed to their use—the ‘‘gall flowers” elsewhere 
deseribed. But if the Blastophaga is dependent upon the fig for its 
existence, the fig is hardly the less so upon the Blastophaga. With- 
yut the Blastophaga no fertile seed would be produced with any regu- 
larity (if at all) and the fig species would be in danger of perishing. 
The influence of the Blastophaga is somewhat different in different 
fig species. It has been shown that in one species at least not only 
the female flowers are dependent for their pollination upon the Blasto- 
phagas, but that the male flowers actually do not develop their ferti- 
lizing pollen without having first been stimulated by the mechanical 
a¢tion of the Blastophaga. 
Figs are visited by many insects, but a distinction must be made 
between ‘‘visitors” or ‘‘messmates” and ‘regular boarders.” The 
former visit the figs in order to feed, either on the fruit and its juices 
or upon other insects. The boarders or ‘‘inquilines” again breed in 
the fig and can not breed anywhere else. The former will injure the 
fig in various degrees, while the latter are absolutely necessary for the 
material maintenance and multiplication of the fig-tree species they 
inhabit. 
LIFE HISTORY OF THE CAPRIFIG WASP (BLASTOPHAGA GROSSORUM), 
If we during the month of June or July! cut open a ‘‘ profico” or 
first-crop caprifig just when it is full grown we may notice that it 
contains a large number of gall flowers or galls, around which crawl 
numerous little insects, some of which resemble minute black wasps, 
while others of the same size are wingless and very differently shaped, 
as well as being. of a yellow or brown color. <A closer inspection will 
reveal to us that a number of the galls are perforated by a single 
round hole through which may either be seen the hollow of the gall, 
or the wasp itself, not having yet escaped. A closer inspection may 
even show us how the light-colored insects, which are the male wasps, 
are enlarging the holes in order to enable the females or winged wasps 
‘The time differs according to the climatic conditions of the locality. In Italy 
caprification is practiced in June. At Niles, Cal., the caprifigs mature in the 
middle of July. In Lower California, I found the Blastophagas emerging from the 
figs of Ficus palmeri in March, from what must have been the first crop of that 
fig. A later generation again emerged in September. 
