Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 6, 2026

Sycophaga

Sycophaga is a mainly Afrotropical genus of fig wasps that live on the section Sycomorus of the monoecious fig subgenus, Sycomorus, and one of several fig wasp genera to exploit its mutualism with Ceratosolen wasps.

Last revised
Jun 6, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
313 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Sycophaga
Sycophaga sp., adult females on F. sur
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Pteromalidae
Subfamily: Sycophaginae
Genus: Sycophaga
Westwood, 1840
Type species
Sycophaga sycomori
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Species

See text

Sycophaga is a mainly Afrotropical genus of fig wasps that live on the section Sycomorus of the monoecious1 fig subgenus, Sycomorus,2 and one of several fig wasp genera to exploit its mutualism with Ceratosolen wasps.3

They enter the fig during the receptive phase of development, and oviposit inside the short-style flowers. This induces the growth of endosperm tissue and the enlargement and ripening of the syconium which holds the wasp-bearing drupelets, without pollination taking place.4

The genus can be characterized by having a long ovipositor, non-metallic coloration, a square mesoscutellum, and a long propodeum.5

Species

The described species include:2

  • Sycophaga afflicta Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga callani Grandi, 1955
  • Sycophaga cyclostigma Waterston, 1916
  • Sycophaga depressa Risbec, 1956
  • Sycophaga gigantea Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga gigas Mayr, 1906
  • Sycophaga insularis Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga silvestrii Grandi, 1916
  • Sycophaga sycomori Linnaeus, 1758
  • Sycophaga tenebrosa Grandi, 1917
  • Sycophaga valentinae Grandi, 1952
  • Sycophaga vicina Mayr, 1906
  • Sycophaga viduata Grandi, 1916
References

References

  1. Weiblen, George D. (September 2000). "Phylogenetic relationships of functionally dioecious FICUS (Moraceae) based on ribosomal DNA sequences and morphology". American Journal of Botany. 87 (9): 1342–1357. doi:10.2307/2656726. JSTOR 2656726. PMID 10991904.
  2. Van Noort; et al. "Sycophaga Westwood". Figweb. iziko museums. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  3. Harrison, Rhett D.; et al. (5 June 2012). "Evolution of Fruit Traits in Ficus Subgenus Sycomorus (Moraceae): To What Extent Do Frugivores Determine Seed Dispersal Mode?". PLOS ONE. 7 (6) e38432. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...738432H. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038432. PMC 3367955. PMID 22679505.
  4. Armstrong, W.P. "Gall flowers in figs: Does The Fig Wasp Really Produce A Gall?". Wayne's Word. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  5. chalcidjyr (2023). "Genus Sycophaga". iNaturalist. Retrieved 22 February 2023.