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.
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.
The genus can be characterized by having a long ovipositor, non-metallic coloration, a square mesoscutellum, and a long propodeum.
Species The described species include: 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