I got an email from pennstate researcher about a new pest that is discovered up north..
A pest that is commonly known to attack figs and fruit trees, has been discovered now in more than one states in September of this year.
It is native to Africa and parts of the Middle East. It has been spread through out of Central America and recently in 2005 it was discovered in Florida and it quickly spread. It is now found in western Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
It is a subtropical insect, but due to the mild winter we had it spread and adapted to cold areas.
Please be careful when moving plants across the states and be aware of how this insect looks like.

Thanks Bass

those things have racing stripes on their back.. so far i haven't seen them here.

I'm in Florida and have not seen them yet, thankfully.  We have enough bugs here in the south, don't need new ones.  Those bugs introduced by accident really do a number on the local plants.  Here in the last two years it has been the Asian ambrosia beetle which has completely wiped out our native sweet bay trees.  I do employ 25 ducks and a dozen chickens to patrol for bug pests.  It does actually work for a lot of pests plus you get eggs and meat.  They can be a nuisance at times especially the chickens but a little fencing tends to cure the trouble spots.  

Nice to know about new pest. I get praying mantis egg cases every year and haven't had many pest problems since I got into doing that thankfully.

Oh dear!  This is the reason states restrict shipping fruiting plants across borders.  Bummer!  They fear eggs hatching.  That one appears evil!  It flies!  California has a huge citrus industry and that fruit fly has made it tough on us!  Want to take an orange or a tomato across the border?  Forget it!  It goes home with the border patrol!!

Thanks Bass!  So far this one hasn't made it to California, but it flies.  YIKES!

Suzi

What kind of damage do they cause?

sounds like AFF goes after already damaged fruits per below link.

http://extension.psu.edu/fruit-times/news/2012/african-fig-fly-another-invasive-drosophilid-fly-discovered-in-pennsylvania

I spoke with dr. Biddinger this morning to get more info about it. He said that the fly goes into the fig through they eye and breeds by laying eggs that hatch into maggots that will damage the fruit. He was not aware of any fig trees growing in Pennsylvania. There has not been any found in eastern pa, he said that it isn't anything to worry about in our area. In California there are already many insects that cause damage to fig crop and commercial orchards have been treating. But I'm rue they don't need another insect.

thanks bass. i'm sure it's nothing to worry about, still.. i don't like maggots on my figs. :)

Bump... Anybody have any issues with this pest?

Fortunately not.

I'll be keeping an eye out for it. Thank you for the information.