These photos show almost ripe male Ficus punctata figs from the Landak area in West Kalimantan around the time of wasp exit.
Two thirds of Bornean figs are dioecious which means that individual plants and their figs are always either male or female.
Male figs act as brood chambers for pollinating wasps and never become edible by animals.
Prior to ripening there are equal numbers of male and female wasps inside the ovaries (brood chambers) of the male figs.
At wasp exist time the male wasps emerge first and impregnate the female wasps whilst the female wasps are still in their brood chambers.
The males then exit the fig through the ostiole- the hole at the base of each fig.
Once the male wasps have left the anthers (male flowers) open releasing a layer of pollen over the inner surface of the fig.
The female wasp them emerge from their chambers and exit through the ostiole after crawling over the layer of pollen inside the fig.
The females are now covered in pollen and fly off to find another fig in receptive mode, which they detect by scent.
Once the female figs have left the male fig rots on the vine and falls to the ground.
Thanks to Ripin for photos and information
