FIG WASP ATTRACTION: UNRAVELING PREFERENCES FOR MALE AND FEMALE FIGS IN Ficus deltoidea VARIETIES USING A Y-TUBE OLFACTOMETER
Abstract
Ficus deltoidea (Moraceae) is a dioecious fig species native to Malaysia with seven distinct varieties in Peninsular Malaysia. It maintains a mutualistic relationship with its obligate fig wasp pollinator, Blastophaga spp. (Agaonidae). Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a vital role in facilitating the interactions between dioecious figs and their specific pollinating wasps. It remains unclear whether Blastophaga spp. from two varieties of F. deltoidea can differentiate between male and female figs by chemical cues, which may impact their host selection and pollination behaviour. This study investigates whether Blastophaga spp. exhibit preferences for male or female figs in two varieties, F. deltoidea var. angustifolia and var. deltoidea, using Y-tube olfactometer assays. This study examined fig wasp attraction, decision time, and the potential influence of fig volatiles on host selection. A total of 132 female fig wasps were tested, with 59 choosing male figs and 73 choosing female figs. A Chi-square test revealed no significant preference between fig sexes (χ² (1, N = 132) = 0.49, P = 0.484). However, Blastophaga spp. associated with var. deltoidea made their choice significantly faster (Md = 77 s) than those in var. angustifolia (Md = 90 s) (Mann-Whitney, U = 1700.50, z = 2.17, P = 0.03, r = 0.19). In conclusion, while Blastophaga spp. showed no preference between male and female figs of F. deltoidea, the faster decision-making in wasps associated with var. deltoidea suggests that fig volatiles may influence pollinator behaviour. This supports the intersexual mimicry hypothesis, thereby underpinning the evolutionary stability of their mutualistic nursery pollination.
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