So, this morning JD went up to Rocky Top to gather some ripe figs.  He got some, but he also discovered this:

 
They are called Fig Beetles.  They buzz around make a lot of noise, but don't bite or sting.  We've been reading methods of control, and we are working on a solution.

Between this morning and now, those beetles finished that entire fig!  JD was going to catch them in a jar.  Too late.

You don't have to worry if you don't live in AZ, NV, CA or TX.  That is their main stomping grounds.

Suzi

I am so sorry to see this.  The way those beetles are covering that fig, puts me in mind of the seagulls in "Finding Nemo", "Mine!Mine!Mine!Mine!"  I wonder what would happen if you lit a match just close enough...  Popcorn, anyone?

I was just noticing the ants on the fig branch.  Are they eating the remains of the fig, or protecting the beetles?

Casey, we do spray our trees with neem to get rid of scale, but that tree is so thick it's tough to hit it all, so the ants are after the scale, however, once the beetles pierce a fig, they are VERY interested too!

Suzi

I stumbled across this article.  At the bottom, it shows the larval stages of your fig beetles.  Hope it helps.
http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/08/green-fig-beetle-figeater-beetle-green.html

Spray liquid 7 dust.

Will the 7 dust harm the figs that we want to eat?  AKA harm us?

Chickens

Wish we had chickens.  Ain't no chicken coop that will sit flat on a hillside and protect the birds from all the wildlife around here.  Coons, Possums, Snakes, Owls, Hawks, Coyotes, Bob Cats, Cougars and I'm sure I missed one.

Suzi

I get it suzi, I don't get the opossums.... since we don't have any. But I get the rest and foxes.... and a black bear from time to time.  

Had a lot of these beetles flying around in my yard this year. Figs weren't ready and the beatles are dying of the heat more this year. They land. Burrow into your yard, produce really giant grubs that turn into these giant green  beatles. Last year we tied a 3 foot length of thread to one of the legs then to a stick, which you hold in the air. They fly around in great circles and the grandkids loved the show. We are going to paint a few heavily with clear varnish and see if we can use them for refrigerator magnets. Chickens get the rest. 

On the east coast, June beetles are attracted to fig trees. I have seen many beetles feeding on figs like in your photo Suzi. They also sit on the leaves, and do some feeding, but not particularly damaging. Japanese beetles were attracted to a couple of fig varieties this year and managed to skeletonize quite a few leaves. One of the varieties was Mary Lane Seedless, they found them all scattered in my collection of potted trees.

I have chickens, and they will sometimes eat a Japanese beetle, but a June bug, and I'm sure a Figeater will be too big for them. I have not found that chickens eat many pest insects in my garden. They do eat figs and other produce though.

Those beetles overtake our hazelnut tree every year.  All of the leaves look like they're shot up with a million micro BBs.  They haven't messed with the fig trees, thankfully.
As for sevendust, I've read it's very harmful to humans.  I might sprinkle dust on the leaves early in the season, but when the fruits are close to ripening, you do not want that stuff anywhere nearby.

I just found these same beetles on a late ripening peach tree. These things
are huge, like japanese beetles on steroids and they're aggressive too. I had to
fight one off with a glove. They remind me of june bugs, but as I said, very aggressive,
and it's far too late for june bugs. I normally let my peaches ripen on the tree, but I
picked two buckets from this tree this morning, that weren't fully ripe, just to save them from
these pests. They only attacked this one tree, and left the others alone.
I would normally spray an insecticide for them, but it's too close to harvest, and it would
make the fruit unsafe to eat. So Suzie, I highly recommend that you don't spray ANY insecticide.
I'd try a water hose with a strong pressure stream. They don't like water, but I'd wear some
protective clothing. As I said, they're aggressive.

oh boy that is the first time I have seen a "June Bug" since I was a kid where I lived in North Carolina   we also did the bug on a string thing that I was taught by my uncle who was in his 60s   you need an armadillo to eat the grubs in the yard.  

Thanks Frank!  I was afraid of the Sevin dust!  Had a feeling, DON'T SPRAY THE FRUIT!  Don't want to end up in ER!

Maybe the beetles eating figs on the east coast are figeater beetles, because they are around in August when the figs ripen. They look very much the same. Skunks love to eat beetle grubs too.

Rayrose, it sucks that you can't even let your peaches ripen on the tree.  At least tomatoes and peaches will ripen on the counter.  Can't say the same for figs!  BUT there is an alternative!  Because of that evil possum and fellow critters, and these horrible Fig Beetles, I now harvest a lot of figs when just soft, but not all jammy and wonderful like we love.

Last night we had this.  Those figs were delicious grilled with those onions!  Tasted like balsalmic vinegar aged for 18 years!  REALLY good!
 

I have more I took before the critters could get them last night.  Partially ripe, but sauteed in butter for breakfast with eggs, bacon and fried leftover polenta, they will be a treat!

Suzi

I'll bet you're a helluva cook. Your husband's a lucky man.

I posted last year about an easy-to-make trap for dealing with these beetles, using rubbing alcohol as bait: https://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/easy-beetle-trap-7542388

I have since refined the design a bit and made it more effective. With two traps I caught hundreds of beetles last year. Unfortunately, since they are such strong fliers and can detect the smell of fruit from long distances, they come from all over and my traps didn't make much of a dent in their numbers. They still destroyed most of the fruit, and what they missed was ruined by dried fruit beetles or birds. This year I haven't even tried to protect the figs--birds and bugs are getting it all.

Thanks Ken!  I forwarded the link to JD.  He should be able to figure it out!

You should pick your figs almost ripe.  Slice them.  Saute in butter.  Then spread on toast.  Yum!  They are so sweet that way.

Suzi

that was a wonderful looking meal you had on the grill   looking forward to having some figs to cook.  L0L    but poor ole Joyce doesnt eat anything that bahs or hops:  rabbit, sheep, frogs, lamb.     and peanut butter, goat cheese, or brussel sprouts     I didnt' feed peanut butter to my little kiddle either.   Can't stand the smell or taste.     So we ate jelly sandwich sans peanut butter.    Now she is a Mommy and no peanut butter for her little boy either.   My husband eats the stuff but I leave the room.  Ick.