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Bass

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I was in Australia this year visiting family near Sydney. My uncle have a few large fig trees, not sure of the varieties. These figs are large, white and dark skin colors, flavor is excellent. Unfortunately there are two problems, birds, and fruit fly.
The birds such as parakeets, budgies, and others are specially attracted to the figs in Australia. The best remedy is to use netting. I noticed nettings at many people's yards in Sydney.
The other major problem is Fruit Fly. I didn't even know that it's called the fruit fly, 50% of the ripe figs have worms in them.
Are there any Fruit Fly problems in the US? Anyone had that problem?
I guess it likes the warmer areas, in the North east we're fortunate.

Bass
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Bass

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I posted this 8 years ago. It was my first post. (still got no replies on it) 
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eboone

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Do they have Spotted Winged Drosophila (SWD) in Australia?  It is a fruit fly, it has been reported on this forum in figs.  I had larvae in two of my figs, they are in my raspberries as well.
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Ed
Zone 6A - Southwest PA     
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Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid),  Col Littman's Black Cross.   And any cold hardy early fig.
mic

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
No we don't have the SWD fly here. I've heard the SWD gets into fruit very early as its developing well before its ripe. That sounds like a nightmare. Hopefully we can keep it out...

We have two other types; Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly and they are bad enough. You get into the habit of tearing fruit in half before you eat it just in case.

To confuse matters, a lot of people call those little black flies that hang around your fruit bowl fruit fly too. I suspect they are what is called here fungus gnats.
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Mic ~ Australia ~ Equivalent to US Zone 10
mic

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
And yes, birds also go after all the fruits and can be a bit of a problem.

I am lucky enough that a pair of butcher birds decided to take up residence in a tree in the backyard. They are only small birds but they are very aggressive to the other birds. And they are carnivorous! Since they've been here hardly any fruit has been lost to birds. They only go after me for a few weeks each spring while they are nesting, but that's not a big price to pay for a pair of fruit security guards.

Possums though, they are another matter all together.....
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Mic ~ Australia ~ Equivalent to US Zone 10
eboone

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Enigma
I use organza bags, fruit-fly lures and baits.


What are you using for fruit fly lures or baits?  Are you trapping them somehow?  Luring them away from your fruit trees?
Very interested in learning methods that don't involve pesticides.
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Ed
Zone 6A - Southwest PA     
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Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid),  Col Littman's Black Cross.   And any cold hardy early fig.
snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Fruit flies, gnats, moths, bees, and wasps are a problem in my area.  Early netting with organza bags works with a handfull of figs but that's hard to do when you have a large tree with lots of figs.
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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