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

Summary

In this video, Ross, the Fig Boss, debunks the myth that all figs contain a dead wasp. He explains that only a specific species of fig wasp, found in small regions like parts of California and Europe, is involved in the pollination of certain fig varieties. Most common figs grown at home don't require pollination and thus, won't have wasps inside. Ross also highlights the fascinating pollination process and the benefits of pollinated figs, which are larger, higher in quality, and have more complex flavors. He encourages viewers to appreciate the fig wasp's role in creating genetic diversity among fig varieties.

Takeaways

• 📣 A viral video on Instagram misled millions to believe that every fig contains a dead wasp, causing many to avoid eating figs.
• 🌳 Ross, the Fig Boss, aims to debunk this myth and educate viewers about the fascinating pollination process of figs.
• 🐜 The fig wasp, specifically the Blastophaga psenes species, is crucial for the pollination of figs, but it is not found in most parts of the United States.
• 🏡 For those growing figs at home, the likelihood of finding a wasp inside is very low, ranging from 5% to 10%.
• 🌍 The wasp is mainly found in specific regions of California, the Mediterranean, and parts of Europe, affecting the pollination of certain fig varieties.
• 🌱 Common figs grown at home do not require pollination to ripen, unlike some varieties like the Calimyrna Fig, which needs pollination to mature.
• 🐝 The pollination process involves the fig wasp entering a male fig, collecting pollen, and then transferring it to a female fig, where it lays eggs and dies.
• 🔬 An enzyme in figs called ficin helps to break down the wasp during the pollination process, ensuring it is undetectable by the time the fig is eaten.
• 🍇 Pollinated figs are larger, higher in quality, and have more complex flavors compared to non-pollinated ones, and their seeds are viable for planting.
• 🌟 The Fig Boss expresses gratitude to the fig wasp for its role in creating genetic diversity among fig varieties, which number in the thousands.

Q & A

What misconception about figs does the video aim to clear up?

The video aims to clear up the misconception that every fig contains a dead wasp inside it.

What is the relationship between the fig wasp and the fig tree?

The fig wasp and the fig tree have a mutualistic relationship, where the wasp helps in the pollination process of the fig tree.

In what parts of the United States is the fig wasp typically found?

The fig wasp is typically found in small pockets of California, both northern and southern, but not in other states like Arizona, Texas, or Nevada.

Why are most people unlikely to find a wasp inside the figs they grow at home?

Most people are unlikely to find a wasp inside the figs they grow at home because the fig wasp is not present in most parts of the country, and common figs grown at home do not require pollination.

What is the role of the fig wasp in the pollination process of figs?

The fig wasp enters the male fig, collects pollen, and then enters the female fig to pollinate it, laying eggs in the process. The wasp dies, but an enzyme in the fig called fisin disintegrates it, so by the time the fig is eaten, there is no trace of the wasp.

How does the fig wasp's pollination affect the quality of figs?

Pollinated figs are larger, higher in quality, taste better, have more interesting flavors, and their seeds are viable, which allows for the creation of new varieties.

What is the enzyme in figs that breaks down the wasp during the pollination process?

The enzyme in figs that breaks down the wasp during the pollination process is called fisin.

Why might someone want to grow their own figs and allow for pollination?

Growing your own figs and allowing for pollination can result in a greater genetic diversity, leading to thousands of different fig varieties with various sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and flavors.

What is the significance of the fig wasp to the variety of figs available today?

The fig wasp is significant to the variety of figs available today because it enables the pollination process, which is essential for creating new and diverse fig varieties.

How can viewers get more information about the fig wasp and its role in fig pollination?

Viewers can get more information about the fig wasp and its role in fig pollination by visiting the Fig Boss's blog at figboss.com, where there is a documentary and an article available for educational purposes.

Outlines

00:00

🐝 Myth Busting: Figs and Wasps

Ross the Fig Boss addresses a viral myth that every fig contains a dead wasp. He explains that this is not true for the majority of figs grown at home, as the specific fig wasp (Blastophaga psenes) required for pollination is only found in small areas of California and certain regions of the Mediterranean and Europe. He clarifies that most home-grown figs are common figs which do not require pollination, unlike the Calimyrna fig which does. Ross also discusses the mutualistic relationship between the fig wasp and the fig tree, highlighting the wasp's unique role in pollination and the resulting benefits for the fig's size, quality, and flavor.

05:01

🌿 The Wonders of Fig Pollination

This paragraph delves into the fascinating process of fig pollination by the fig wasp. Ross explains that the wasp is attracted to the fig's volatile compounds and enters the fig to lay eggs, carrying pollen from male to female figs. The wasp's life cycle is intricately linked to the fig's reproductive process, with the wasp's death and disintegration facilitated by an enzyme in the fig called ficin. Ross emphasizes that by the time the fig is consumed, there is no detectable trace of the wasp. He also touches on the broader implications of this natural process, including the genetic diversity it fosters among fig varieties and the importance of respecting the role of the fig wasp in the ecosystem.

Keywords

💡Fig wasp

The 'Fig wasp' is a specific type of wasp that plays a crucial role in the pollination process of fig trees. It is a mutualistic relationship, meaning both the fig tree and the wasp benefit from each other. In the video, the Fig wasp is described as being very small and not resembling a typical wasp, which is why many people might not realize they are consuming them. The wasp is essential for the pollination of certain fig varieties, particularly those grown in regions where the wasp is present.

💡Pollination

Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower to the female part, enabling fertilization and the production of fruit and seeds. In the context of the video, the Fig wasp is attracted to the fig's scent and enters the fig to lay its eggs, inadvertently pollinating the fig in the process. This is a critical step for the development of certain fig varieties, as it allows them to ripen and produce viable seeds.

💡Mutualism

Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where two different species rely on each other for survival, and both benefit from the relationship. The video explains that the relationship between the Fig wasp and the fig tree is mutualistic. The wasp helps in pollinating the fig, while the fig provides a place for the wasp to lay its eggs and a source of food for its larvae.

💡Ficus carica

Ficus carica is the scientific name for the common fig tree, which produces the figs discussed in the video. The tree has a unique relationship with the Fig wasp, which is essential for the pollination of the figs. The video emphasizes that most people growing figs at home are growing Ficus carica varieties that do not require pollination by wasps to produce fruit.

💡Fisin

Fisin is an enzyme found within figs that helps in the pollination process by digesting or disintegrating the Fig wasp after it has pollinated the fig. This enzyme ensures that by the time the fig is consumed, there is no trace of the wasp, which is a point of concern for some people who are wary of consuming insects. The video mentions that the presence of fisin in figs is a natural part of their biology.

💡Calimyrna Fig

The Calimyrna Fig, also known as the Turkish fig, is a variety that requires pollination by the Fig wasp to ripen properly. The video explains that this variety is often pollinated in regions where the wasp is present, such as parts of California and Turkey. This is in contrast to common fig varieties that can produce fruit without the need for wasp pollination.

💡Misinformation

Misinformation refers to the spread of false or inaccurate information, which is a central theme in the video. The video addresses the viral misinformation that all figs contain dead wasps, which has led to people avoiding figs. The video aims to correct this by explaining the specific conditions under which wasps are involved in the life cycle of figs.

💡Genetic diversity

Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genetic characteristics within a species. The video highlights how the Fig wasp has contributed to the genetic diversity of figs by pollinating them, leading to the development of thousands of different fig varieties with various sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors.

💡Viable seeds

Viable seeds are seeds that have the potential to germinate and grow into new plants. In the context of the video, pollinated figs produce viable seeds, which can be used to plant new fig trees, either by humans or by birds. This is an important aspect of the life cycle of figs and contributes to the spread and diversity of fig varieties.

💡Figs in grocery stores

The video discusses the origin of figs found in grocery stores, which may come from regions where Fig wasps are not present, or where pollination may not be a standard practice. This contrasts with figs grown at home, where the likelihood of encountering a wasp inside a fig is very low, especially if grown in areas without the wasp species.

Highlights

Ross the Fig Boss addresses a viral video's misinformation about figs containing dead wasps.

The fig wasp, Blastophaga psenes, is mutualistic with the fig tree and is very specific to figs.

Most people growing figs at home won't have wasps inside due to the wasp's limited geographical distribution.

The fig wasp is small and not easily noticeable, unlike typical wasps.

Pollinated figs are larger, higher quality, and have more interesting flavors.

The enzyme 'fisin' in figs digests the wasp, so it's undetectable when eaten.

Pollinated figs have viable seeds, allowing for new varieties to be grown.

The fig wasp is responsible for the genetic diversity of thousands of fig varieties.

The video discusses the importance of the pollination process for figs.

Fig wasps lay eggs in male figs but not in the edible female figs.

The wasp's role in pollination is essential for fig ripening and seed viability.

The video clarifies that most people eating figs are unlikely to consume wasps.

Ross encourages viewers to be respectful of the fig wasp's role in fig cultivation.

A documentary and more information about the fig wasp are available on figboss.com.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and learn more.

Transcripts

all right fig lovers this is Ross the

Fig boss today's video is inspired a bit

by a story that happened to me recently

one of my best friends reached out to me

the other week and he said Ross I heard

that there are figs or wasp excuse me

inside of our figs and that every fig

has a dead wasp inside of it and he said

I'm never eating figs again and then

later that night my college uh tennis

coach actually asked me the same thing

and I thought what is going on turns out

they both had watched watch a 60-second

video on Instagram and this was a viral

video where Millions I think millions of

people had saw and now of course A lot

of people are misled into thinking that

oh I'll never eat figs because there's a

wasp inside of it so that's what we're

doing in today's video I want to clear

up some of that misinformation talk

about why that could be true or why in

most situations that's false um and also

talk about the amazing pollination

process of the Fig actually it is

fascinating and we also are going to

cover some of the benefits as to why you

would want to pollinate your figs and

why if you're eating a pollinated fig

why that could be better for you so here

we go let's talk about whether or not

that information is true uh if you're

growing them at home 99 90 to 95% of us

will not have a wasp inside of our figs

the reason for that is because the Fig

was the blast oega which is is a species

of fig wasp that is mutualistic with the

Fig Tree Ficus Kika which by the way

Ficus Cara has its own species of fig

wasp there is a species of wasp very

particular to the Fig it's unlike by the

way any other wasp that you've ever

heard of honestly it doesn't look

anything like a wasp to me it's so small

it's like the size of a small ant um you

would never even know it was there you

would barely even see it flying around

your figs if it was in your area but

this wasp is just not present in most

parts of the country it's only in

pockets and I mean small pockets of

California northern and southern it's

not anywhere else it's not in Arizona

it's not in uh Texas it's not in uh

Nevada uh but it is however in the

Mediterranean and it is also in eastern

and western parts of Europe so if you're

getting figs like the calamera Fig or

tur Turkish figs from Turkey then of

course they're going to be pollinated

because the Fig wasp is very so present

in those areas also the calamera Fig

which is the Turkish variety that they

grow mainly has to be

pollinated it requires pollination for

it to actually ripen whereas most of the

figs that we grow at home are called

common figs and they never require

pollination so the Fig is pretty amazing

in that sense so again if you're getting

them from the grocery store different

story if you're growing them at home

different story you can't just apply

ones and zeros all or nothing to every

fact there ever is on the internet from

a 60c Instagram video um so yeah that's

the little details on that if you're

getting them from California there's a

good chance they rep pollinated if

you're getting them from South America

again at the grocery store actually not

sure whether or not not they're

pollinating their figs on purpose or if

they're in their uh in that area so

let's talk about the amazing pollination

process really quickly the the Fig wasp

that is attracted to the Fig Ficus Cara

through vle compounds will come from a

male fig that contains pollen uh first

of all a female fig enters that male fig

also lays its eggs but by the way you

cannot lay eggs eggs inside of the

female figs that we eat but it will

leave that that male fig take the pollen

with it those newly hatched female wasps

and then come over here to the the

female figs enter inside of them lose

their wings and then they will of course

um pollinate it and they won't lay any

eggs because it's actually impossible

for them there's different flowers

inside of each female fig compared to

the male fig so pretty cool and then of

course they die and this is where people

get hung up but there's an enzyme within

figs that uh it's called fisin it's in

the sap it's in the leaves in the

branches and the trunks in the figs

themselves that has this enzyme fisin

that digests or disintegrates the Fig

wasp throughout its process of

pollinating it and so uh by the time you

eat it which is about 45 roughly to 60

days later you you had never even known

you would never even see it detect it

that there was at one point a dead wasp

inside of your figs and if you're really

concerned about insects in your food I

would highly recommend doing more

research on your food because you would

not believe how many insects you eat on

a daily basis uh there are way more

insects that you eat and the Fig really

should be one of these things that uh

you never even really think about when

it comes to the amount of bugs that you

eat in each food that you eat it's

probably and I'm sure it's definitely

lower on the spectrum of bugs that

you're eating also the Fig wasp like I

said is very small and about the size of

a small ant and so it's doesn't even

really look like a wasp and you know I

don't really mind eating an ant it's

just a fact of life of eating figs I

think um so again if you're going to be

growing your own food you're going to be

eating food you're probably going to be

eating more insects than you think but

that's the pollination process and it's

it is a huge benefit because the

pollinated figs will be larger higher

quality taste better have more

interesting flavors to them and then of

course the seeds within them become

viable allowing these figs if you take

the seeds out of them to be planted

either by us or by a bird to create new

varieties isn't that amazing and that's

exactly what I'm doing behind me here

why I have so many fig trees and why

over the years I've tried 400 or more

different fig varieties to figure out

which ones are the best for my

particular climate and people like

myself in other parts of the world so uh

you know it's it's a huge genetic

diversity that has been created from the

Fig wasp and I am eternally grateful to

the Fig wasp for that reason there are

thousands of varieties that exist now

because of the Fig uh the Fig wasp they

come in different sizes shapes colors

textures flavors eating experience you

name it it is amazing and I think uh we

ought to be really quite respectful to

the Fig wasp rather than like saying oh

my God there's a dead insect in our figs

that's disgusting so um yeah that's the

video here guys please if you enjoyed it

hit the like button for me hit the

Subscribe button for me and also there's

a documentary I've uh put on my blog fig

boss.com uh it wasn't created by myself

but there's a whole article there that

describes so much more information about

the Fig wasp and of course you can go

there and watch the documentary for free

it's there for educational purposes and

I thank you guys here for

watching we'll see you for the next one

take care