Is this the black fig fly?

@Beabchasingizz , I am in San Diego as well and it seems that we are hit with the same wave of BFF. See my post “Who said growing figs in Southern Ca was easy?” on Monday.

@Fig Gazer , thank you for the feedback. To the point!

I am interested in replicating your experiment with the sacrificial Genoa tree as it seems to be a straightforward and non-intrusive method.
Hopefully coupling that with a rigorous sanitation practice will reduce the damage and limit the spread.
 
For the record :the first year BFF showed up i applied KAYOLIN powder and paste to fig ostiales and observed BFF sticking there egg depositer right thru it to lay eggs ! MANY powders,creams and chemicals ,sents and oils still to try ? With the very bottom line that you are still going to eat the stuff yourself to be a winner (or loser ) .
 
I am hopeful that some kind of control will be found at some point in the future. As you known, this is also a significant pest of figs throughout southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. May be some viable measure come out of there.

For the time being, I’ll be happy to clean and may be give up the crop from one or two trees to spare the rest…
 
I might would try a soft wax.
Fig Gazer said:
For the record :the first year BFF showed up i applied KAYOLIN powder and paste to fig ostiales and observed BFF sticking there egg depositer right thru it to lay eggs ! MANY powders,creams and chemicals ,sents and oils still to try ? With the very bottom line that you are still going to eat the stuff yourself to be a winner (or loser ) .
Click to expand...
I might try a soft wax.i have used this for growing mushrooms.

Plug Wax for use with Mushroom Plug Spawn in logs

Use plug wax to protect plug spawn inoculation sites without the hazards of using hot wax. This wax is pliable at room temperature, so no need to melt it. Simply take a pinch of this food grade wax and press it over the top of each plug. 6 fl. oz. tub will seal 1,000 plugs, 3 fl. oz. tub seals...
www.fieldforest.net
 
It seems they spray deltamethrin in Greece but it's every 14 day application. I guess garden safe permethrin would be a similar option in California.


I went through last night and picked off all the infected figs. Bagged 2 entire trees and bagged the figs on the rest.
 

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Beabchasingizz said:
It seems they spray deltamethrin in Greece but it's every 14 day application. I guess garden safe permethrin would be a similar option in California.


I went through last night and picked off all the infected figs. Bagged 2 entire trees and bagged the figs on the rest.
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PLEASE REPORT YOUR RESULTS WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO FRUIT QUALITY AND SURVIVAL ! THANKS !
 
I've been moving towards not spraying anything. Even though I do have permethrin labeled for gardening, I prefer not to spray every 2 weeks. I don't think it will be good for the pollinators. I also released some Carolina mantis and mites so I don't want those to be killed either.

I'm going with the bag method for now.
 
I got good reports back on NoFly WP trails for spraying and soil drench. The down side is cost and short shelf life. It is easy on beneficial insects. If the fungus is established in the soil it should offer some long-term control. Warhammer also is used for RNK and anecdotal reports say it will control some soft bodied insects and may offer some control too. I prefer biological controls but I might use a trap crop method with a systemic insecticide as @Fig Gazer is using White Genoa.
 
MattK said:
I got good reports back on NoFly WP trails for spraying and soil drench. The down side is cost and short shelf life. It is easy on beneficial insects. If the fungus is established in the soil it should offer some long-term control. Warhammer also is used for RNK and anecdotal reports say it will control some soft bodied insects and may offer some control too. I prefer biological controls but I might use a trap crop method with a systemic insecticide as @Fig Gazer is using White Genoa.
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Wow that stuff is expensive.

I checked my figs yesterday and found about 5 infected figs on my panache. My other trees didn't have it yet or the larve is not developed enough to damage the fig. I squeeze them to look for damaged fig. I didn't find any other damaged fig but most of the other plants are earlier in the figlets stages.

Thanks for the tip, I never heard of this biological control. I'll use bags for now but it's good to know this might be an option.
 
Anyone know what to do for varieties that need pollination? Do I remove the bags when I see wasp?

I saw some custom bags from ourfigs that allow the wasp to enter but it looks like they aren't bring sold anymore.
 
Just went and checked my garden. Only after bagging the tree for 24 hrs I see dropped maggots. I sprayed the soil with spinosad because I had it mixed earlier this week. I'm pretty sure I have pulpa in the soil. I only saw maggots in the panache pot. Nothing in the black mission. I glanced at the bagged figlets and didn't see any maggots yet. I choked up the tree bag on the trunk so the maggots are unlikely to find the tied part. I did tie it pretty tight so I don't think they can wiggle out.

I'm considering doing a garden labeled permethrin soil drench. Bagging the pot and soil seems a bit hard to do to capture the BFF.
 

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GoodFriendMike said:
They make mesh bags with bigger holes.
Some people are having success using them. The larger holes allow the wasp in and keeps the fly out. It may also help keep the figs from spoiling as they should breathe better.
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Do you know if they are regular organza bags or custom?

I saw this but they aren't on sale anymore.
figbid.com

10 Original Wasp In Fly Out Fig Bags—YES pollination and NO Black Fig Fly

This listing is for ten Original Wasp In Fly Out fig bags. I made these bags for use on my own trees, but theyre working well and I want to share them with my fellow Southern California growers before its too late in the season to pollinate and save some figs from the Black Fig Fly (Silba...
figbid.com figbid.com
 
Beabchasingizz said:
Do you know if they are regular organza bags or custom?

I saw this but they aren't on sale anymore.
figbid.com

10 Original Wasp In Fly Out Fig Bags—YES pollination and NO Black Fig Fly

This listing is for ten Original Wasp In Fly Out fig bags. I made these bags for use on my own trees, but theyre working well and I want to share them with my fellow Southern California growers before its too late in the season to pollinate and save some figs from the Black Fig Fly (Silba...
figbid.com figbid.com
Click to expand...
They are not custom made.
 
Fig Gazer said:
Beabchasingizz : long name ! i have a lot of fig bags i do not use much in cluding "fly out wasp in" (BOUGHT AROUND 300 ONE TIME ) MESSAGE ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND YOU A ASORTMENT GRATIS .
Click to expand...
Thanks I got your assortment of bags. Currently washing the fly out wasp in bags. I used the made in China white bags. These look like they might work well although it's a bit floppy so the fig eye might be in contact with the bag allowing the fly to contact it. Do you by chance still have a link for this one? Might be useful for others.
 

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Does anyone know the time that the wasp will enter the fig? At what size figlet? It does it enter at any time/size?

I missed a few unk pastiliere figlets. I'm afraid they have the BFF egg on them. I wanted to bag it with a regular bag so the larve can't exit. If it doesn't have the larve, then I can change the bag at a later date to allow the wasp.
 
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