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Many of nature's symbiotic relationships have cheaters who try to gain the benefits of the system without reciprocating. In the case of the fig wasp, some try to lay their eggs without pollinating the fig seeds. In this case, the fig tree will often prematurely drop the fig to 'punish' the cheater wasp.

The common fig (Ficus carica) has a symbiotic relationship with the wasp Blastophaga psenes, which pollinates the flowers. This normal cycle is shown in the main cycle, with the adult wasp carrying pollen (yellow) to pollinate the fig it lays its eggs in. The development and hatching are shown in the other stages. In some cases, wasps try to lay their eggs without pollinating the fig flowers (lower left, no pollen grain), and the fig tree will often prematurely drop the fig to ‘punish’ the ‘cheater’ wasp. This is an example of a symbiotic relationship where one side attempts to gain the benefits of the system without reciprocating.