THE SMYRNA FIG AT HOME AND ABROAD 75 



LIFE HISTORY OF THE WASP AND HOW IT PROPAGATES. 



It must be borne in mind that the Capri figs and Smyrna Figs are entirely distinct 

 in their characteristics. The Capri figs merely serve as a home for the insect, and 

 stand in the relation of males to the Smyrna Figs, which produce only female 

 flowers. During the season the Capri figs produce from three to four crops, the 

 number varying under different climatic conditions. In our fig orchard four crops 

 matured annually since the establishment of the insect. The first crop appears in 

 March and ripens in June, and is called the Profichi; the second is called the Mam- 

 moni, and commences to push out in the form of small buttons in June, and is 

 in the receptive stage in July, maturing in the latter part of August, and early 

 in September, when a new crop of figs appears on the trees, called the Second 

 Mammoni, or third crop, which the insects enter in the same manner. The fourth 

 in October. In the San Joaquin Valley, this crop is the final crop. The fact of the 

 matter is, however, the last two crops, Second Mammoni and Mamme, are so closely 

 interwoven, it is very difficult to make any distinction. In some seasons where the 

 frosts do not occur until December, insects can be found to be issuing even as late 

 as this; but this is the exception rather than the rule. 



To properly understand the manner in which the insects propagate it must be 

 borne in mind that the Capri fig is a hollow infloresence, the greater part being lined 

 with gall flowers, which are ready to receive the egg deposited by the Blastophaga 

 fully six weeks before the male or staminate flowers, occupying a limited zone near 

 the eye of the fig, mature. The propagation of the fig wasp takes place in the 

 following manner: 



The overwintering Capri figs mature from the latter part of March, and continue 

 to ripen until late in April. The wingless male wasps make their appearance first; 

 they gnaw their way into the galls where the females lie, using their powerful 

 mandibles for the purpose, and impregnate them, and then perish within the fig 

 in which they were born. The winged female then escapes by widening the passage 

 made by the males, leaves the fig and enters the Profichi crop of figs, then in the 

 proper stage to receive the insect. This crop develops on the old wood, and 

 is about the size of a marble when in the receptive stage. The ostiolum, or orifice, 

 appears to be closed, but the insect with the saw-like projection under the thorax, cuts 

 its way in through the scales, losing its wings in the operation, which may be seen 

 later adhering to the scales, like two iridescent rays. Once inside of the fig, it 

 erawJs around and deposits its eggs in the gall flowers; one egg is deposited In 

 each flower between the nucleus and the integument of the ovaries. After having 

 performed this function, it perishes within the fig to which it has entrusted its 

 offspring. In consequence of the puncture made by the wasp the flowers in the fig 

 enlarge after the manner of a gall, in which the wasp embryo develops. Shortly 

 after this development, a marked change takes place in the caprified fig, it turning a 

 dark green color, becoming firm and hard, and presenting a fine, healthy and vigorous 

 appearance. Six weeks later the fig ripens, and at this time the male or staminate 

 blossoms are mature. The insect develops in the same manner in this crop as it did 

 in the Mamme crop, but the female in its passa'ge out of the fig gets its body and 

 wings covered with pollen, and if the fig from which it issues, has been previously 

 hung in the Smyrna Fig trees, it enters the young female figs, then in the proper 

 state of maturity to admit its entrance. Laden with pollen obtained in its outward 

 passage from the Capri fig, it fertilizes the female flowers. It crawls around in the 

 fig, making frantic efforts to find a depository for its eggs, but the formation of the 

 flowers is such it is unable to reach the ovaries with its ovipositor. Although 

 it fails to propagate the species, it carries out a two-fold purpose; the figs thus 

 entered contain fertile seeds and mature into beautiful, luscious fruit. If the fig 

 has not been removed from the Capri tree, it enters the young Mammoni figs, deposits 

 its eggs in the gall flowers, and fertilizes the few female flowers to be found in this 

 crop. 



The propagation of the wasp in the following crops of Capri figs is the same, the 

 only noteworthy difference is that the Profichi crop is the only one developing an 

 abundance of male flowers. Hence, this is the only crop essential to the Smyrna 

 Fig, for it is the only one in which the male blossoms reach a perfect state of 

 maturity, and without which no Smyrna Figs can be produced. 



