Fig Trees & Wasps: Do Figs Have Wasps in Them?

Recently I got a phone call from one of my best friends. He said, “Ross, I’ll never eat a fig again. I heard that all figs have wasps in them.” He told me he watched a short video on Instagram.

Later that night my college tennis coach brought up the subject and asked me if it was true. Dumbfounded that something so idiotic could go viral, I needed to set the record straight on this blog. After all, that was one of my main inspirations for creating it. I realized that most of the information you’ve read about fig trees on the internet is incorrect and even worse it’s constantly regurgitated.

Contrary to 30-second Instagram and TikTok videos, fig wasps aren't in every fig. And for those afraid of bugs, you'll never open a ripe fig and find a dead wasp inside. You can rest easy.

In this article, I'll explain the fig wasp's role, where it's found, and how it’s solely responsible for creating thousands of unique fig varieties.

As always if you want more fig-related content like this, feel free to subscribe to the Fig Boss newsletter at the top of the page.

Do Figs Have Wasps in Them?

Figs can have wasps in them. It depends.

Around 90% of us growing fig trees at home will never have a wasp in our figs. The fig wasp (Blastophaga psenes) is only located in parts of California and the Mediterranean. You won't find fig wasps flying around or in your figs outside these regions.

The fig wasp is slowly spreading in California, but according to a Hungarian study, Blastophaga psenes will not survive temperatures below 12F during the winter, limiting its spread.

What About Figs From the Grocery Store?

Some fig varieties, like the Calimyrna (also known as Turkish figs), need pollination to ripen properly. Turkey is the biggest exporter of dried figs, and Calimyrna figs are the most common type in grocery stores. If the label says the figs are from Turkey, they are likely Calimyrna and were likely pollinated.

Figs grown in California are also usually pollinated. While varieties like Black Mission, Brown Turkey, and Panache don't need pollination, it happens naturally.

If you want figs without wasps, grow them at home in areas without fig wasps. Homegrown figs are better anyway, picked perfectly ripe right off the tree.

Related: Why I Grow Fig Trees and Why You Should Grow & Plant Your Own

Q: Are there dead wasps in figs?

A: Yes, if a fig was pollinated, inside it was once a dead wasp. However, an enzyme called ficin in the fig's sap breaks down the wasp's body, making it undetectable to consumers. Thus, concerns about eating wasps in figs are largely unfounded. 

Additionally, the fig wasp is extremely tiny, allowing it to enter the fig's ostiole (eye) and complete its life cycle. You wouldn’t even notice it or recognize it as a wasp. It’s tiny and they look nothing like the wasps you're familiar with.

For vegans, this fact might bring up an internal philosophical debate, but you're probably eating more bugs than you realize. Whether you're growing food or buying it from the store, bugs are inevitably part of your diet whether you like it or not. You’d be surprised to learn about other foods you eat.

The Fig Tree’s Mutualistic Relationship with Fig Wasps

The fig tree has a unique pollination process called caprification that differs from most other fruit trees. Unlike other fruit trees, which rely on bees and other insects for pollination, fig trees have a mutualistic relationship with fig wasps.

That’s because the fig is an inverted flower housed in a syconium, unlike other flowering plants where the flower parts are easily accessible.

Related: 20 Facts About Figs & Fig Trees You Probably Didn't Know

Read more about caprification in Condit's book, Caprifigs and Caprification.

The fig wasp evolved alongside the fig tree and each species of Ficus has a specific species of wasp that pollinates it. This is called obligate mutualism.

For example: 

• Ficus racemosa is pollinated by the wasp Ceratosolen fusciceps.

• Ficus hispida is pollinated by the wasp Ceratosolen solmsi.

• Ficus carica is pollinated by the wasp Blastophaga psenes.

The fig trees attract their pollinator wasps by releasing species-specific volatile compounds that are different from those produced at any other fig stage and from those of any other species.

The Pollination Process: Figs and Wasps

Entering the Fig:

Female fig wasps carrying pollen from male Profichi figs enter female figs through a small opening called the ostiole (eye), losing wings and antennae in the process.

Laying Eggs:

Once inside the fig, the wasp lays her eggs in the ovaries of some of the flowers inside the fig. This process involves the wasp injecting her ovipositor into the flowers to deposit her eggs.

Pollination:

While laying eggs, the wasp also pollinates the flowers. Female fig wasps have specialized pollen pockets on the underside of their thorax where they carry pollen from the fig in which they were born.

As the wasp moves around inside the fig to lay her eggs, she actively transfers pollen from these pockets to the stigmas of the fig flowers. This active pollination is necessary for the fig tree to produce seeds.

However, in female figs, the stigmas are not suitable for laying eggs. Female wasps will attempt to pollinate them, but it will only lead to the production of viable fig seeds.

After pollination, female wasps die within the fig’s cavity.

Watch this incredible process happen below. 

Credits:

This unique mutualistic relationship between fig trees and fig wasps not only ensures the pollination of figs but is also crucial for the genetic diversity observed in today's fig varieties. Without fig wasps, fig seeds would not be viable, hindering the natural propagation of these fruit trees.

The Benefits of Pollination

Pollination (caprification) can increase the size, quality, and flavor of figs. It’s no wonder that the USDA purposely imported fig wasps from the Mediterranean to support commercial fig production in California.

Californian commercial fig growers were also growing the variety Calimyrna similar to Turkish growers which requires pollination.

As someone who wants the best-tasting figs possible, I was actively trying to colonize the fig wasp in Philadelphia. After a few years of effort, hand pollination might be a better way to accomplish this. 

Related: Hand Pollinating Figs Without the Fig Wasp: A Step by Step Guide

Q: Do Fig Trees Need Pollination? 

A: Fig trees do not need pollination in most cases. However, it does depend on the variety of your fig tree. “Common” fig trees never require pollination whereas Smyrna and San Pedro fig trees do. It’s important to understand your fig variety and where it came from. If you’re unsure, feel free to contact me through the Fig Boss contact form. Or better yet, contact the nursery or person you got your fig tree from.

Below I’ll explain the 3 types of female figs and how to determine if your fig requires pollination from the fig wasp or by hand pollination.

The 3 Types of Female Figs: Common, Smyrna, & San Pedro

Common Figs

Common figs don’t need pollination, so you only need one tree. There’s also no need for a male tree or the fig wasp. Nurseries offer these "Common" female figs, which can be either Unifera (producing one crop) or Bifera (producing two crops, including a breba crop). The main crop grows on the current season’s growth, while the breba crop forms on last year’s growth and ripens earlier.

Smyrna Figs

Smyrna figs require pollination, either by hand or by the fig wasp to produce their main crop fruit. They have only perfect female flowers and will never produce a breba crop.

San Pedro Figs

San Pedro figs have different pollination needs for their two crops. The first crop, called breba, doesn’t require pollination, while the main crop does. This makes it easy to distinguish San Pedro figs from Smyrna figs, as San Pedro figs (Bifera) produce breba crops, while Smyrna figs (Unifera) do not.

Related: The Fig Tree: Exploring its Fascinating Fig Wasp, Pollination, History, Types of Figs & other Ficus