I went looking for a description of the climate in the areas that Japanese figs are grown and found this rather disturbing piece concerning the Japanese Longhorn Beetle which has been moving up the U.S. East Coast for the past few years.

On which plants: P. hilaris attacks plant belonging to the Moraceae family, in particular Ficus (including fig trees, F. carica) and Morus spp. (mulberries).

The full post is here. http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/Alert_List/insects/psacothea_hilaris.htm

I thought they "just" liked hardwoods such as oak.  And we were worrying about fig mosaic virus.

C.J.

Check this out - I found this at one of hte Japanese sites linked by Ingevald - I am pretty sure the text reads as follows:

"
The fig is the favorite food of the Long-horned beetle.
Eggs are laid and the larva will eat the wood from the inside.
This makes shavings (sawdust) come from the tree forming an artistic pyramid.
Kinchoru horticultural uses a spray with which to kill them.
They thrust the spray nozzle into the bore hole. 
The liquid travels through the hole as the liquid keeps advancing.
There are also times when it erupts (from the holes - as you see pictured)."

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ikfarm/42996981.html

C.J. -  That is a very good find in regards to the Longhorn Beetle and sharp eyes Satellitehead, for spotting the text on the Japanese link (I forgot that was in there).    This makes me think it might be good to someday post a listing of links that discuss the various pests and diseases of the fig.    Figs in general are fairly pest free from what I have seen but reading about the long-horned beetle sure got my attention.