Phenology and Pollination Ecology of Three Brazilian Fig Species (Moraceae)

The phenology and pollination ecology of three native fig species were studied in southeastern Brazil. Populations displayed continual syconia production, with one species showing intra‐tree flowering asynchrony. Pollination of the fig flowers was necessary for the development of the syconia; lack of pollination induced abortion of syconia. All three species follow the general pattern of pollination known for figs, but the behavior of the pollinator wasps, Pegoscapus spp., differed in some aspects from those of other neotropical and paleotropical fig wasps, mainly with respect to pollen loading and unloading during pollination. The longevity of Pegoscapus wasps outside the syconium was about two days.