After I found out that I have a capri fig and fig wasps I go and check on them few times a day to see if they will pollinate the other figs I have next to it (2 unknown and 1 Lampiera ). A few days ago I caught few fig wasps working to get inside some of my figs.
I am glad that I saw the wasps before I decided to get rid of my capri fig.

         

Pat,

Very nice pictures and such an interesting subject !
Congratulations

I am glad you did not scrap that wild tree. I am sure you will appreciate some time later, how it will reward your wisdom and good sense.

I wonder what fig is that...a very young fig let forming , picture ID DSCN6676 (?)
Is this a new fig on the Caprifig ? If it is on the Caprifig, see please if you have more of those on it.

Good job!

Francisco

Thank you Francisco for advise and all the info. The small fig is not on the capri fig :-( it is on a black unknown fig I have next to the capri fig. Unfortunately I only have 3 trees with figs on them at this time. I have 3 more varieties (Col de Dame noir, Grosse Monstreuse de Lipari and a Panache) but they just started to put out figs and they are too small for fig wasps. All my figs are way behind due to luck of TLC while I was gone during the month of May and most of June :-(

Pat, thank you for the information.
The reason for inquiring the position of that very small developing fig was to alert you that the
Caprifig may be (?) already showing similar fig lets or fig buttons, near the leaves, on its 2014 wood which will be its second crop of Mammoni or summer figs. On ALL caprifigs this is the most difficult crop to set and on many instances it simply never show up.
Some of your living wasps will have to get into these Mammoni and leave there their load of eggs.
(see pics of this recent move on one of my Caprifigs)

Francisco

    on

Francisco,
that's a good thing you brought up this matter.
The capri that I had transfers with tiny root (Capri Fig from Glendale Church Parking Lot) now is showing signs of new generation figs under each , new wood, leaves...

   

Aaron,

Those little figs on the axils of the leaves of your Caprifig are its second crop (Mammoni).. They will grow rapidly and soon will be sufficiently developed to provide a sanctuary to the last June/July wasps with its  gall flowers where the insects lay their eggs....which will give birth to the next generation of wasps by October/2014..ready to exit this Mammoni fig and to colonize the third crop which by that time will appear on the wood of the Capri (Mamme), or the winter fig.

Having some female flowers (not many), these Mammoni or summer figs 'cause they lodge wasps with good pollen, will get those female flowers pollinated, and to produce a few fertile seeds.

Pat's Caprifig will certainly behave the same way although it's rather common to see just a few Mammoni and sometimes none at all!, specially after very heavy crops of the spring Profichi.

Francisco

I see bright future in both our gardens Pat :)

Pat,

I wonder if your Lampeira is showing any main crop figs. These could well be your first actual test for your set-up, and in your area,  becoming they should be receptive by now.

Francisco

Francisco, I can see some tiny figlets on the capri fig like Aaron's. Hopefully the next generation of capri figs (Mammoni) will grow.

 

From what i remember the figs from my Lampeira are main crop. I'll go check and take a picture and posted later.

Hi ! Very nice pictures !
Yes Pat. This is a very good sign of Nature taking good care of your Caprifig
These figlets are like Aaron's,  the Mammoni crop. In a week or two, thay shall be sufficiently developed to provide 'accommodation' for some wasp to get in and fill their 'modified female flowers'  - galls, with their loads of eggs.

If you keep an eye on your yard you will witness the process and may be you should also give these insects a hand...

The tiny wasps do have many predators and they know how and where to ambush them, particularly a minuscule spider setting its webs around the figs issuing wasps as well as encircling the receptive figs..and catching a lot of wasps.. Whenever wasps have to move I spent some time destroying those webs, early morning (this on my potted figs).

Look forward to see what you have found with your Lampeira main crop.
On previous seasons did you manage to pollinate and ripen any of these figs ??
There is no reason why you shouldn't.

Good figging
Francisco

Francisco, you are so right about protecting the wasps. Probably as you were writing the post I was in the yard checking my wasps and taking pictures. I saw 2 tiny golden things on one of the capri figs and I thought are seeds. When I looked at the picture and magnifying them I saw a dead fig wasp and a spider mite. Here are the pics...


and a magnified dead fig wasp 

Francisco, you were asking about my Lampeira fig. It is about 2.5 ft tall and I think the figs you see in the pictures are the main crop (on this year wood). I do not remember if it has breba or not. Last year the figs were huge with green skin and burgundy pulp inside.

This year pics...

   

This pic was taken last year. The fig is not fully ripe but it split and I could not let it stay on the tree any longer.
 

Pat,

Let me comment on your last couple of posts..

A) Fig eye with dead insect and attacker..

The long golden colored, wingless insect is a wasp male. By the time the fig (Profichi)  ripens, these male wasps after fecundating the females (black insects with wings), will cut through the 'bush' of male flowers just under the ostiole and open up the fig eye from the inside out just to ease the escape of the pollinating wasps....behind these males sometimes the flow of insects is rather violent and they will push out the males which remain on the outside around the fig eye and die soon after.

B) Pics of main crop figs, leaves and pulp detail

These figs do not seem to be Lampeira main crop. The shape of the unripe fig is different... The leaves and the fig pulp are also much different from the real Lampeira.
May be some other variety.

Francisco

Oh, well....I am disappointed that my Lampeira may not be a real one :-) I got the cutting 2 years ago from a scion exchange organized by California Rare Fruit Growers in San Jose. I thought they are a reliable source. Last year was the first time when had few figs. I have to inquire more about it. 

Pat,
Sorry for that..Here you have pictures of the good Lampeira Preta,... (San Pedro type fig)
Brebas, Leaves, Pulps and
Main crop figs with skin and pulp details.
Leaves of Lampeira Preta are mostly lobeless with a few 3 round, round/low cut lobes..

I am now convinced that there is confusion arouns this variety.

Francisco