| The ovipositor of parasitic Hymenoptera is a specific organ for depositing eggs by piercing into a host's body, serving as a valuable index for understanding the competition, cooperation, and multitrophic cascades among co-occurring species. Here, we used light and scanning electron microscopy to gain the morphological characteristics of one pollinating fig wasp Ceratosolen gravelyi and four species non-pollinating fig wasp Philotrypesis dunia, Sycophaga cunia, Apocrypta sp., and Sycoscapter trifemmensis, which are endosymbiosis with the fig syconia of Ficus semicordata. According to the wasp ovipositing fig sequence and fig wall thickness, we explored the correlation between the ovipositor structure and diet of 5 wasps, as mentioned earlier. The results showed that the sclerotization degree of the ovipositor tip gradually increased with the later-ovipositing sequence wasps. The pollinator C. gravelyi, laying eggs inside, showed one ovipositor tooth and one campaniform sensillum at the surface of the ovipositor. Still, four non-pollinators, depositing eggs outside, had more teeth and sensilla at the same location of ovipositor. Furthermore, the number and diversity of ovipositor teeth and sensilla could increase from gall-makers to parasitoids. There was a positive correlation between the length of ovipositor teeth and fig wall thickness. Hierarchical cluster analysis using ovipositor traits mirrored the functional categories of fig wasp in F. semicordata. The results will help understand the diet and coexistence in the fig wasp community. Additionally, the detailed knowledge of ovipositor structure may predict the function categories of parasites in other communities. |
