cjccmc
1469609201
Posted 1470896782
Reply with quote #1
In Orange County California (just south of LA) I discovered maggots in figs from 3 different trees in my area. Some were severe to the point of seeing a wriggling clump outside at the ostiole. Another one tonight, just a few barely noticeable inside a mission fig with a very tight closed eye, no idea how an insect could get inside that one.
Conrad , SoCal zone 10
Timo
1439198835
Posted 1470910282
Reply with quote #2
At least one insect can lay its eggs in the fruit without entering the eye of the fig: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosophila_suzukii
leon_edmond
1188903453
Posted 1470911822
· Edited
Reply with quote #3
This year for the first time in Albuquerque I've seen the dried fruit beetle. It will enter large open ostioles and sour the figs. My Triana fig tree may need to be discarded because the slightest amount of rain creates a fungal infection inside this fig near the ostiole. Great tasting fig but what's a great tasting fig if all of them present this way. Not all figs are meant to grow everywhere. It's important to find the fig that performs the best consistently under your conditions. I'm having to rethink about growing so many varieties for this very reason. But he way, I always slice my figs in half to look for critters and mold.
pitangadiego
1188871011
Posted 1470930384
Reply with quote #4
They are probably fruit flies. Never had a problem till last year. Last year was atrocious. Haven't seen any, so far, this season. There are some beetles which go by a variety of names, such as fruit-souring beetle, and can be an issue, but in my experience you are more likely to see the beetles than the maggots.
http://encantofarms.com
http://figs4fun.com
http://webebananas.com
rcantor
1309799312
Posted 1470942694
Reply with quote #5
I put organza bags on my fruit as they swell before they get sweet. The fruit and other flies can't get at the figs. I only see magots if a fig isn't in a bag.
cjccmc
1469609201
Posted 1470956687
Reply with quote #6
I've had bad infestations of the little "dried fruit" beetles before but haven't seen any adults this year. Those do not cause maggots in hanging fruit from what I've read. Also had years where all my figs soured on the tree before ripening. All years I've seen some smallish flies on soured figs but this year is first year that I'm finding maggots inside.
Conrad , SoCal zone 10
figeater
1446540443
Posted 1470962438
Reply with quote #7
EEW! That's not
cjccmc
1469609201
Posted 1470972690
Reply with quote #8
Quote:
Originally Posted by figeater not
Conrad , SoCal zone 10
Smyfigs
1443660141
Posted 1471002650
Reply with quote #9
I have learned to ALWAYSslice my fruit and vegetables. Even tiny salad tomatoes!
Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a
mic
1417007842
Posted 1471011179
Reply with quote #10
Fruit fly sting the fruit to lay their eggs under the skin which later hatch into maggots. They are a huge problem over here. Thin skin fruit are an easy target for them like guava and raspberries. Generally I've not had a big problem with them on the figs, but from what I've experienced some varieties appear far more susceptible than others.
cjccmc
1469609201
Posted 1472015178
Reply with quote #11
I put some of the infested figs in a jar on Aug 11 to see what would hatch. The maggots went into something like a cocoon stage and now several have hatched. Newly hatched flies are about 1/8" long, have red eyes, a greenish tan body, grayish wings and darkish coloring at tail end. When I look up all the infamous flies in SoCal none match, but lots of pics on internet that just call them "fruit flies" do match. So it's not the SWD fly but something else. Anybody know?
Conrad , SoCal zone 10
figeater
1446540443
Posted 1472022004
Reply with quote #12
It may just be a common fruit fly. I wonder how many bugs we all eat daily, without knowing it...:(
leon_edmond
1188903453
Posted 1472040700
· Edited
Reply with quote #13
It is a fruit fly. This year my figs are infested with them as well. I always slice my figs before eating them. Amazing things I've discovered inside.
johnnyq627
1366344367
Posted 1472049617
Reply with quote #14
eh, just some extra protein. :)
gofiger
1468681189
Posted 1472054483
Reply with quote #15
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnyq627
Steve
gofiger
1468681189
Posted 1472056472
Reply with quote #16
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcantor
Steve
don_sanders
1429304713
Posted 1472057666
Reply with quote #17
Really tiny ants can still get into organza bags. Terro Outdoor Liquid Ant Bait Stakes at the base seem to do the job though. Some people use sticky barriers like tanglefoot or vaseline.
johnnyq627
1366344367
Posted 1472069568
Reply with quote #18
Quote:
Originally Posted by gofiger
grant441
1358456015
Posted 1472072732
Reply with quote #19
I just pop them in my mouth and if it taste good I eat it if it taste sour I spit it out.I know I have ate a few ants before in figs I can hande that but the maggots I cant handle.
