"A fig!"
William Shakespeare, Othello Act 1 Scene 3
Wasps in figs is a question that comes around periodically.
2 pieces of important information:
The fig produces an enzyme called ficin (or ficain) which dissolves the wasps, so a ripe fig should have no dead wasps. This enzyme is in the white milky latex of the sap, and a reason why fig latex is used for various things, including folk remedy of removing warts.
Secondly, self-fruiting figs (parthenocarpic) do not have the wasp aspect, and many popular varieties are in this group. This includes Kadota, Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Celeste which are popular home garden figs. The Smyrna group (and Sn Pedro) are the ones that need the wasps for pollinization. I don't know what are commercia varieties and Israel has zillions of varieties of fig (many are Arab grown and not seen in the markets). Calimyrna figs (of Fig Newton fame) do need the wasp, but again, the wasps are dissolved when the fig is ripe.
FYI The sycamore fig (shikma of Torah and Chazal) is grown as a lumber tree, but is does bear fruits. Not very good, but still fruits and hence lots of mention in Shviis etc. These figs need the wasp for pollinization. The fig can be induced to ripen without the wasp by slashing the fruit. I suspect this is what is referred to that Amos HaNavi was a "bolais shikma in Amos 7:14 Of course it coulod refer to the lumber aspect too...
