Duct Tape. Found this to be the best way to keep the ants off the figs. Easy to pull off as well. Roll duct tape into a little tube lengthwise sticky side out. Just pull tag end at the end of the season to remove. The tape here is Gorrilia tape.

Smart move. You could start  a Hints from Heloise column right here.

Thanks I have been wondering!  

Njfred, how does it hold up in the rain?  I am just wondering if you would have to do several times if it got taken off by the rain.

On the flip-side of sticky tapes I wondered earlier if plumbers Teflon thread tape would be too slippery for bugs to get a foot hold to cross.  Somebody here said it would hurt the tree so I forgot about it.  Now I'm wondering again.  

Duct tape is the wonder tape, the cure-all of all ailments....I think??

With rain, so far so good. I do think with dust and rain the tape may require replacement now and then. I came up with the trick recently so we will see. But it literally takes second to put on so if I need to replace every now and then not a big deal. Plumbers tape is also a good idea. I believe it is Teflon. I can't imagine either duct tape or Teflon installed for a month or two while the figs are ripening would hurt the tree. I suppose if there is any concern use this trick around the pot itself.

I've used electrical tape with the sticky side out to etiolate limbs.  But there is a problem... if the wind blows lawn/garden debris around your tree it might stick to the tape and form a bridge for the ants.  Smearing some petroleum jelly or Tanglefoot on the tape should help.

Good idea. For those who want a sustainable solution that can withstand the rain, etc! check out Tree Tanglefoot Tape. Been using it with 100% success and you only need to re- apply it every 6 months or so.

Great tip! Thanks for sharing!

6 months is too long.  I would apply towards the end of the stagnant stage of fig growth and take off as soon as the last fig ripens.  If you block the sun from the wood for too long, the stem meristem converts to root meristem (think about an air-layer or rooting cuttings).  The wood will convert back once the tape is removed, but there is a slight risk of girdling the bark.

Hmmmm.....good points here. Sounds like a good ideal to pull the old tape off every couple of weeks and reapply to a different spot. Should keep the tape sticky and not cause problems to the bark.