Natural History of Anidarnes Bicolor (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae), A Galler of the Florida Strangling Fig ( Ficus Aurea )

Abstract

The natural history of Anidarnes bicolor (Ashmead) Boucek (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae: Sycophaginae), a host-specific galler of the Florida strangling fig (Ficus aurea, Moraceae), is described. A. bicolor females oviposit through the outside of the globular fig inflorescence; offspring feed on sterile tissue within galls induced on the inner wall of fig. Oviposition coincides with entry of the pollinators (Pegoscapus mexicanus; Hymenoptera: Agaonidae: Agaoninae) into the fig, and does not interfere with pollination. Pollinator presence is in fact crucial to A. bicolor success, because unpollinated, galled figs are aborted by the tree. However, A. bicolor may nevertheless reduce pollinator success: maturation of pollinator offspring appears to be negatively affected by the developing A. bicolor galls. Although the composition of the wasp community associated with the native Florida figs is relatively well-known, this is one of the first studies of the natural history of one of the non-pollinator species.