Black Fig Fly in Sacramento County

F

Figaholics

Active member
Bad news. Today a home grower reported that CDFA confirmed that the infested fruits of a Panache tree she purchased on September 3rd from Green Acres Nursery in Sacramento were BFF. This was a larger tree in a 5 gallon pot with many immature fruit on it. County ag officials reported visited all locations of this nursery on Friday and removed any fruits from Panache trees still on hand. I am trying to find out the wholesale nursery source for these trees (I spoke with an employee there this evening and he was guessing who the source may have been but I don't want to mention any names without something concrete information.
 
According to Houston Wilson at UCR, there have been no other official reports of BFF. I've heard mention of it by various sources but apparently none of these possible finds were reported to officials or Houston just did not get word of it.
 
I imagine there are other retail nurseries with trees in similar condition and people may want to check nurseries in their area and report any finds to their county Agricultural Commissioner.
 
I wish I could contribute more on this one... I have my share of experience in south italy but there.... exist naturally evolved pests and predators...... I'd like to learn more about BFF because it will ultimately affect all of us. In Europe it's a "nuisance " but there it's seemed to me that, BFF is part of the natural flow and it has predators.... on the other hand a few years ago, our trees there got scale and nobody had any idea what it was until i showed up and was able to identify it.

Globalization... it is what it is. Not a judgement. Just a reality
 
Sheesh, when you first take on a hobby you never really consider all the things that could potentially be detrimental to it.
I always try to stay positive but as the saying goes, It's always something!

This is the first year I have had SWD really bad.
This is the first year I have had woodland creatures eating my fig.

What will it be next season....I'm not going to say it. lol
 
It happens I have a relative managing a legal agricultural facility in Massachusetts. They had implemented a program of winter cover crops. The idea turned bad this summer with an invasion of Voles. This winter no cover crop allowed. Plowing the entire field from the Outer Perimeter inward. Sadly one of the biggest San Diego area Dragon Fruit Farms had to eradicate about 3,000 squirrels a season. I mentioned these extremely small commercial Farms. None more than a handful of Acres in size. In my backyard the local squirrel hasn't had a taste yet of fresh fig. As soon as his lips touch that forbidden fruit, he will have to be trapped, or killed. There's nothing else to be done. Sorry about your raccoon/possum invasion Kevin. Some years are are just worse than others.
 
It was just a matter of time.

I don't like using pesticides, but a dab of Captain Jack's Deadbug Brew (Bonide/Organic) on the ostiole has prevented BFF on 100% of the figs I applied it to.
I had a 20% loss on the figs I didn't apply it to. Unconcentrated, it turns the ostiole dark. I don't know if the BFF doesn't like the new appearance, or if it's the Bonide that's preventing any eggs from hatching. Out of a 1000 figs, I didn't observe any adult BFF on the dark ostioles so maybe it's the appearance that's deterring oviposition.

Hexanol, sugar, and a little yeast makes a great lure for the BFF.
 
Figology said:
It was just a matter of time.

I don't like using pesticides, but a dab of Captain Jack's Deadbug Brew (Bonide/Organic) on the ostiole has prevented BFF on 100% of the figs I applied it to.
I had a 20% loss on the figs I didn't apply it to. Unconcentrated, it turns the ostiole dark. I don't know if the BFF doesn't like the new appearance, or if it's the Bonide that's preventing any eggs from hatching. Out of a 1000 figs, I didn't observe any adult BFF on the dark ostioles so maybe it's the appearance that's deterring oviposition.

Hexanol, sugar, and a little yeast makes a great lure for the BFF.
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Thanks for that info!  Can you please clarify:  Do you mix the product according to instructions and then paint it on the ostiole?
 
Figaholics said:
Thanks for that info!  Can you please clarify:  Do you mix the product according to instructions and then paint it on the ostiole?
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I meant to write undiluted instead of unconcentrated. Slight dilution works as long as it's still thicker than water. 

I usually pour it as is, into a shallow cup and dip my finger every few figs to ensure each ostiole is wet. 

The wasp is is unaffected by the appearance and still pollinates. I might mix in a fungicide next season to hopefully control wasp induced endosepsis.
 
@figaholics that is an amazing remedy you worked out. It's not just that it's saving you 20% of your fig crop. It's also that you're using the Captain Jack's dead bug undiluted, and that it's completely not affecting the Fig wasp. How did you work this one out? Was it just Horticultural intuition, or did it occur in some other fashion. I had read that the state was recommending that Spinosad12 was of some use as a soil drench to be employed against the BFF larvae. BTW where is the location of your home Orchard in California?
 
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Figless said:
@figaholics that is an amazing remedy you worked out. It's not just that it's saving you 20% of your fig crop. It's also that you're using the Captain Jack's dead bug undiluted, and that it's completely not affecting the Fig wasp. How did you work this one out? Was it just Horticultural intuition, or did it occur in some other fashion. I had read that the state was recommending that Spinosad12 was of some use as a soil drench to be employed against the BFF larvae. BTW where is the location of your home Orchard in California?
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It was the only pesticide I had on hand.

I found out by accident that it changes the ostiole color and texture. My main intention was to have the Spinosad readily available for any oviposition and hopefully kill any larvae that fed. I'm in Los Angeles.
 
@Figology what a fascinating remedy against the BFF. Completely unique in every way. Using undiluted bonide Captain Jack's dead bug how did you ever get the idea to do that? Also it seems completely amazing that you were taking 20% losses from the BFF before you decided to employ this undiluted solution. I had heard the state recommending a Spinosad 12 application but only has the soil drench to be used to kill the BFF larvae. It's also equally wonderful and amazing that the Fig wasp is undeterred by this application, and capriification continues unabated. Maybe we could get @CA-orchard in the thread as well. @GoodFriendMike I had not heard of this being employed in such a way before.@Figology at what  figlet size are you applying the undiluted Captain Jack's? Where is your home Orchard located in California if you don't mind me asking? I am terribly sorry I mistook figaholics name for yours. The system wouldn't show me my post till after I rewrote it a second time.

I reside part-time in Los Angeles as well. Maybe we can meet each other sometime. Do you go to any crfg chapter meetings?
 
Figless said:
@Figology what a fascinating remedy against the BFF. Completely unique in every way. Using undiluted bonide Captain Jack's dead bug how did you ever get the idea to do that? Also it seems completely amazing that you were taking 20% losses from the BFF before you decided to employ this undiluted solution. I had heard the state recommending a Spinosad 12 application but only has the soil drench to be used to kill the BFF larvae. It's also equally wonderful and amazing that the Fig wasp is undeterred by this application, and capriification continues unabated. Maybe we could get @CA-orchard in the thread as well. @GoodFriendMike I had not heard of this being employed in such a way before.@Figology at what  figlet size are you applying the undiluted Captain Jack's?
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I apply when the figs are approximately 15mm. BFF prefer figs at that are a little more mature.
 
@Figology thank you for sharing the figlet application size. What is your Horticultural intuition telling you about why this is working? Is it just the changes in figlet texture? and smell? Or is the pesticide itself at work here?
 
Figless said:
@Figology thank you for sharing the figlet application size. What is your Horticultural intuition telling you about why this is working? Is it just the changes in figlet texture? and smell? Or is the pesticide itself at work here?
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The BFF has very keen senses. My first instinct tells me the ostiole does not appear normal and does not have the same chemical compound scent as a normal fig, meaning the BFF will not waste energy even trying.

I've had ideas of tricking the BFF into thinking the fig was pollinated already, therefore it would not oviposit. You could do this by spraying the correct organic compound in the orchard.
 
Figology said:
The wasp is is unaffected by the appearance and still pollinates. I might mix in a fungicide next season to hopefully control wasp induced endosepsis.
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This will be great and worth trying. So far there is no easy way to protect against BFF and still allow wasps.
 
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