At first glance, figs couldn’t hurt a fly — but what about a wasp? According to Healthline, wasps play an essential role in fig reproduction, and the same can be said vice versa. Due to their enclosed shape, wasps are the fruit’s only natural pollinator. But, not in the way, you may imagine that the wind or bees pollinate other species. To pollinate figs, a 2001 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that female wasps must break off their antennas and wings to fit through the fruit’s small opening. Then, they lay their eggs inside and die shortly after. Over time, enzymes in the fig break their bodies down as the eggs get ready to hatch.
It sounds terrible, but it gets better. After the eggs hatch male larvae enter the fig to mate with the female larvae, and they all eventually leave the fruit — carrying the fig’s pollen with them in the process. In doing so, they carry on the lifecycle of not only their species but the figs as well. So, even though figs technically do play a role in the wasps’ demise, they also rely on wasps to carry their pollen out into the world. It’s a natural, symbiotic relationship that both species rely on for survival. So, while some people may suggest vegans avoid eating figs, others see no issue in it.
