University of Leeds, UK.
Biol Lett. 2010 Dec 23;6(6):838-42. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2010.0389. Epub 2010 Jun 16.
Fig wasps and fig trees are mutually dependent, with each of the 800 or so species of fig trees (Ficus, Moraceae) typically pollinated by a single species of fig wasp (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae). Molecular evidence suggests that the relationship existed over 65 Ma, during the Cretaceous. Here, we record the discovery of the oldest known fossil fig wasps, from England, dated at 34 Ma. They possess pollen pockets that contain fossil Ficus pollen. The length of their ovipositors indicates that their host trees had a dioecious breeding system. Confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy reveal that the fossil female fig wasps, and more recent species from Miocene Dominican amber, display the same suite of anatomical characters associated with fig entry and pollen-carrying as modern species. The pollen is also typical of modern Ficus. No innovations in the relationship are discernible for the last tens of millions of years.
榕小蜂与榕属植物相互依存，约 800 种榕属植物（榕属，桑科）通常由榕小蜂科（膜翅目：榕小蜂科）的单一物种进行授粉。分子证据表明，这种关系存在于 6500 万年前的白垩纪。在这里，我们记录了在英国发现的最古老的已知化石榕小蜂，其年代为 3400 万年前。它们拥有带有化石榕属花粉的花粉袋。它们的产卵器的长度表明，它们的宿主树木具有雌雄异株的繁殖系统。共聚焦显微镜和扫描电子显微镜显示，化石雌性榕小蜂，以及来自中新世多米尼加琥珀的更近的物种，显示出与现代物种相同的与榕属植物进入和携带花粉相关的解剖特征组合。花粉也与现代榕属植物相似。在过去的数千万年中，这种关系没有明显的创新。
