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Sunday 30 June 2013

Figs and Bouncing Insect Eggs


My wife was out in the back of the house watering our plants and vegetables under the fig tree when she heard an odd noise. It was coming from our patio table and sounded like the gnashing of mandibles. It took a while looking under and around the table but it wasn't until she looked on the table for a few seconds that it occurred to her what it was. Insect Eggs. They were bouncing around.

I did some research about this subject. Its called katatrepsis, where the embryo in the egg is shifting around. Its odd that its under our fig tree as its wasps that germinate them by climbing inside, laying eggs and dying. This is described in more detail here. Its interesting that every 100 grams of fig jam have about thirteen or more insect heads. Still yummy and now with more protein!

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