The plant is a potted transplant and doesn't show any obvious signs of distress.  I also noticed the same stuff on another young potted transplant.  Are the ants associated with the white stuff?  I look at them daily, I'm pretty sure it hasn't been there more than a day or two, max.

Hi
just have a look..

https://www.google.pt/search?q=ants+and+mealybugs&safe=active&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjEoPa_yr7UAhXIDxoKHXdBBIIQ_AUIBigB&biw=1138&bih=481

most probably ,a small colony of mealybugs supported (cultivated by ants) are getting near your plants and while they are not too numerous you may clean them by hand with a piece of cotton or by short sprays of Biokill (organic very effective  pesticide)

Here you have good guidelines to control your problem--
https://organicgardeningnewsandinfo.wordpress.com/tag/get-rid-of-mealybugs/



Francisco
Portugal

Francisco!  Thank you for your response.

Does anybody else think this looks like "mealy bugs"?  I looked at the photos in the Google link provided and while I'm certainly capable of being mistaken, they don't look like mealybugs to me...

Not sure if Francisco has them there... But it looks like the waxy filaments that some types of  planthoppers leave behind around here. Never seen them do any damage, doesn't mean they don't but I don't worry about them.

It's the combination of the filaments/wax AND the ants that lead to it probably being mealybugs.  Ants will 'swarm' to both aphid and mealybug infestations...

Will they harm the plant?

Mealybugs, yes if there are enough of them they will harm the plant.  They are 'sap suckers'.  Also they are know to transmit viral diseases from plant to plant.

I got another pic of the bugs.  I think they look like the nymph stage of the plant hopper.

Break out the soap...

Mix some true soap (not a detergent), like a castile soap or the 'so pure it floats' stuff in a spray bottle with water and spray the heck out of your figs.   They'll thank you for it in the long run.