在榕樹—榕小蜂高度專一的互利系統(tǒng)中，存在著大量的非傳粉榕小蜂,，絕大部分的非傳粉榕小蜂在果外用較長的產(chǎn)卵器刺過果壁進行產(chǎn)卵,，只有少量種類的金小蜂能夠進入果內(nèi)產(chǎn)卵。在西雙版納版納地區(qū)，只有隸屬于4個屬中的5個種能夠進入果內(nèi)產(chǎn)卵,。

中科院西雙版納熱帶植物園協(xié)同進化組研究人員以鈍葉榕為研究對象,，對進果產(chǎn)卵的3種榕小蜂(Eupristina sp.,， Diaziella yangi,， Lipothymus sp.）的生物學(xué)特征進行了深入的研究，解決了進果產(chǎn)卵的金小蜂是否像傳粉小蜂一樣為同步成熟的卵,；是否與傳粉榕小蜂一樣有相同的產(chǎn)卵位點,；是否傾向于在短花柱的雌花上產(chǎn)卵，及這些小蜂是造癭者,、寄居者還是復(fù)寄生者等四個問題,。

結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)：1.進果產(chǎn)卵的金小蜂與傳粉榕小蜂類似，卵為同步成熟,，這有利于它們在短時間里快速產(chǎn)下卵,。2.傳粉榕小蜂和金小蜂在雌花柱頭的相同位點處插入產(chǎn)卵器，并把卵產(chǎn)于子房內(nèi)的相同位置處,，并肩發(fā)育,。3.不同于以往的研究結(jié)果，傳粉榕小蜂和金小蜂并沒有偏愛產(chǎn)卵于短花柱的雌花子房內(nèi),，而是隨機地產(chǎn)卵,。4.金小蜂不能獨立產(chǎn)卵造癭，它們把卵產(chǎn)于已有傳粉榕小蜂卵的子房里,，依賴傳粉榕小蜂造癭,，但它們能修飾癭花，有利于自身發(fā)育,。因此,，被認(rèn)為是二次造癭者，這是一種新的榕小蜂食性模式,。

該研究以Secondary galling ：a novel feeding strategy among ‘non-pollinating’ fig wasps from Ficus curtipes為題,，在Ecological Entomology上發(fā)表。（生物谷Bioon.com）

doi:10.1111/een.12030
PMC:
PMID:
Secondary galling: a novel feeding strategy among ‘non-pollinating’ fig wasps from Ficus curtipes

HUAN-HUAN CHEN1,2, DA-RONG YANG1, DING GU1, STEPHEN G. COMPTON3, YAN-QIONG PENG1,*

Keywords: Agaonidae;coexistence;Ficus;inquiline;oviposition;Pteromalidae The interaction between pollinator fig wasps (Agaonidae) and their host fig trees (Ficus) is a striking example of an obligate plant–insect mutualism, but figs also support numerous ‘parasites’ of the mutualism. Female agaonids (foundresses) lay their eggs in shorter-styled flowers, whereas longer-styled flowers produce seeds. A few ‘non-pollinating’ fig wasps (NPFWs) can also enter figs to oviposit Fig wasp oviposition site choice and larval biology in figs of an Asian monoecious species, Ficus curtipes Corner, were recorded where two NPFW species oviposit inside the figs, such as the agaonid. Eupristina sp. agaonids chose flowers in proportion to their availability, rather than preferring to oviposit in shorter-styled flowers. Diaziella yangi van Noort & Rasplus and Lipothymus sp. (Pteromalidae) foundresses followed Eupristina sp. into receptive figs and laid their eggs entirely in flowers that already contained pollinator eggs. This indicates that both NPFWs are inquilines under the widely-used terminology in the fig wasp literature, because they utilise galls generated by the pollinators. However, their adult bodies and galls were larger than those of the pollinators, showing that they independently stimulate ovule growth. These species are better described as secondary gallers that modify galls previously generated by the pollinators and kill these primary gallers. Use of the term ‘inquiline’ among NPFWs inadequately and often inappropriately describes their biology. No known NPFWs are inquilines in the strict sense that they do not harm their hosts. ‘Primary gallers’, ‘secondary gallers’, ‘seed predators’, and ‘parasitoids’ describe their biology more accurately.