Fruit fly with fig wasp on wing from NATURE documentary “The Queen of Trees.” (Credit: Deeble and Stone Productions)
When it first premiered in the Spring of 2006, the New York Times declared NATURE’s The Queen of Trees as an extradordinary film. Aside from a surprisingly exciting storyline, considering it focuses on a single species of African fig tree that sustains a complex ecosystm, the filmakers, husband-and-wife team Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone obtained stunning visuals, only possible with the invention of high-definition cameras.
The documentary, which took two years to make, highlights the relationship between a tiny wasp and a giant fig tree, the sycomore. According to NATURE, “The Queen of Trees documents the tree’s pivotal role as a source of food and shelter for everything from gray hornbills, Africa’s largest bird, to swarms of invading insects searching for food. In a surprising turn, some insects come to the tree’s aid — sparking a battle you won’t want to miss.”
The Queen of Trees airs Sunday, September 7 on PBS (check local listings).