244 PRACTICAL COURSE IN BOTANY 
food for her offspring by gathering a ball of pollen in her 
antenne and deliberately plastering it over the stigma (Fig. 
353). In this way fertilization of the ovules and maturing 
of the fruit is secured. The larve feed on the unripe seeds 
for a time, but so few are 
destroyed in proportion to 
the number matured that 
the plant can well afford to 
pay the small toll charged 
in return for the service 
rendered. 
279. Caprification of the 
fig. — A more complicated 
case of specialization is that 
of the Smyrna fig of com- 
Fic. 355.— Upper boughs of a capri- Merce —_ the only one of the 
fig tree, showing an abundant crop of species that is capable of 
spring fruit. A 
perfecting seeds. The 
staminate flowers are borne on a separate tree, the caprifig, 
which grows wild in the countries bordering on the Medi- 
terranean. The caprifigs, as the fruit of this tree is called, 
are worthless except as the breeding 
and nesting places of a small insect, 
the fig wasp. This insect is the 
necessary agent in conveying pollen 
from the stamens of the caprifig to 
the pistils of the Smyrna fig, which it | Fic. 356. — Female wasps 
penetrates at certain seasons of the fees Chich tne cena an 
year in the effort to lay its eggs. In_ laid. 
order to insure caprification, as this process is called, the 
caprifigs are strung by hand on fillets of cord or raffia and 
hung about on the trees which are to be fertilized. In this 
case we have an example of a threefold partnership between 
man, the fig tree, and the wasp, which is necessary to the 
existence of two of the parties. 
