Q. I opened my fig fruits and there are ants inside and
the fruit is rotting from the inside out.
the fruit is rotting from the inside out.
A. Fig fruits have a small roundish opening on the bottom
called the “eye”. Sometimes this eye is open and sometimes it’s closed
depending on the variety of the fig. Figs that have “open” eyes allow entry of
insects inside the fruit which can cause problems like premature softening, an
off taste or souring of the fruit. Fig fruits that have “closed eyes” have
fewer problems for home growers than those with “open eyes”.
called the “eye”. Sometimes this eye is open and sometimes it’s closed
depending on the variety of the fig. Figs that have “open” eyes allow entry of
insects inside the fruit which can cause problems like premature softening, an
off taste or souring of the fruit. Fig fruits that have “closed eyes” have
fewer problems for home growers than those with “open eyes”.
 |
| “Eyes” of the fig. The fig on the left has an open “eye” while the one on the right is closed. The open “eye” can allow insects to crawl inside the fruit, like the dried fruit beetle which can cause “souring” of the fruit. |
Ants
have been exploring your fig tree and now have found the “open eye “ of your
fruit. As this fruit becomes sweeter, the ants have more reason to visit it.
Ants carry plant diseases with them from fruit to fruit. They can transfer bacteria
or fungi that cause fruit rotting to the inside of your figs.
have been exploring your fig tree and now have found the “open eye “ of your
fruit. As this fruit becomes sweeter, the ants have more reason to visit it.
Ants carry plant diseases with them from fruit to fruit. They can transfer bacteria
or fungi that cause fruit rotting to the inside of your figs.
Either
exclude or kill the ants by applying an insecticide or physically block them
from getting to the fruit. Look at products such as Tanglefoot and eliminate
routes the ants might use to reach the fruit. Once they find a way around an
obstacle, they all will know how to do it in a short period of time.
exclude or kill the ants by applying an insecticide or physically block them
from getting to the fruit. Look at products such as Tanglefoot and eliminate
routes the ants might use to reach the fruit. Once they find a way around an
obstacle, they all will know how to do it in a short period of time.