The Hidden Secret of Every Fig You Eat

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There’s a secret ingredient in every fig you eat, and it’s not what you’d expect! Discover the incredible truth about figs and their tiny, essential partners.  #FigFacts #NatureSecrets #Symbiosis#HiddenFigTruth

Transcript

00:00The hidden secret of every fig you eat, figs are celebrated for their sweetness,

00:05especially in places like Argentina during their summer harvest around.

00:09February 20th, but beyond their delicious flavor, lies a secret many Don T know.

00:15Every fig you eat contains a dead insect.

00:19This isn't an accident.

00:21It's a fig wasp, and these tiny insects are absolutely essential for the fig tree's survival.

00:26Without them, there would be no figs.

00:28Why is a wasp found inside a fig?

00:31It comes down to the fig tree's unique biology.

00:35Unlike most fruit trees, fig trees keep their flowers hidden inside what we perceive as the fruit.

00:41This structure, called a seconium, is an inverted flower cluster.

00:46Because of this, fig wasps are the only insects capable of entering these internal flowers.

00:52They are the exclusive pollinators transporting pollen from male to female fig trees.

00:56The wasp's life cycle within the fig is fascinating, and often fatal.

01:02Female fig wasps enter male figs to lay their eggs.

01:06Once the larvae emerge, covered in pollen, they seek out female figs to continue their cycle and pollinate the tree.

01:13However, once a female fig wasp enters a female fig, its shape prevents it from exiting.

01:18The tiny entrance, called the osteole, allows entry, but traps the wasp inside.

01:26Trapped, the wasp dies within the fig.

01:29Its body then decomposes, broken down by an enzyme called fissin, becoming a source of nutrients for the growing fruit.

01:36So, as astonishing as it seems, when you enjoy a fig, you are consuming the remains of a fig wasp.

01:43This intricate and symbiotic relationship is a confirmed reality, fundamental to how figs thrive.

01:51It's a prime example of nature's ingenious and sometimes surprising partnerships.

01:56Money expires.

01:58Money expires.

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