RESPONSES OF FIG WASPS TO HOST-PLANT VOLATILE CUES

Fig wasps (Chalcidoidea; Agaonidae) are intimately associated with the 750 or so species of fig trees (Ficus, Moraceae). Each tree species i s usually pollinated by a single species of wasp belonging to the subf amily Agaoninae, while other wasps of the family are parasitoids or se ed predators. Previous experiments have shown that the wasps are attra cted to the trees by volatiles emanating from the figs. Using fig-bear ing trees and arrays of sticky traps baited with figs, we investigated the specificity of wasp attraction and its timing. The pollinators of two closely related Ficus species were specifically attracted to figs of their host species and only at the time when figs were ready to be pollinated. Some nonpollinating fig wasps appear to respond to the sa me volatile cues.