Q. We have a black mission fig tree and there is a large
green bug that is eating the figs. At
first I thought the birds were eating the figs so I covered the tree with
netting. However, when I checked the
tree today, I saw 4 or 5 large green bugs inside the netting eating the
figs. See the attached picture of one of
the bugs. What are these bugs, and how
can they be controlled? They are eating
the figs right before the figs are ready to pick. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
green bug that is eating the figs. At
first I thought the birds were eating the figs so I covered the tree with
netting. However, when I checked the
tree today, I saw 4 or 5 large green bugs inside the netting eating the
figs. See the attached picture of one of
the bugs. What are these bugs, and how
can they be controlled? They are eating
the figs right before the figs are ready to pick. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 |
| Green metallic June beetle |
A. This can happen every single year on figs. This pest is
the green metallic June beetle and they seem to love white figs more than dark
figs. The immature form or larva of this beetle is the white grub we see eating
the roots of plants like lantana and in compost piles feeding on decaying plant
life. Here they are feasting on Kadota fig at the University Orchard when I was
there. The larva feed on anything below ground soft that is living or recently
dead.
the green metallic June beetle and they seem to love white figs more than dark
figs. The immature form or larva of this beetle is the white grub we see eating
the roots of plants like lantana and in compost piles feeding on decaying plant
life. Here they are feasting on Kadota fig at the University Orchard when I was
there. The larva feed on anything below ground soft that is living or recently
dead.
 |
| Green metallic June beetle on Kadota fig |
They will eat any soft fruit not just figs. They will go
after ripe peaches or nectarines left on the tree if they are soft. The key is
they must be soft fruit or they can’t eat them. Peaches you can pick them a
little early and let them soften and ripen in the kitchen. You can’t do that
with figs. They must be picked fully ripe so this is a problem with this fruit
and this insect.
after ripe peaches or nectarines left on the tree if they are soft. The key is
they must be soft fruit or they can’t eat them. Peaches you can pick them a
little early and let them soften and ripen in the kitchen. You can’t do that
with figs. They must be picked fully ripe so this is a problem with this fruit
and this insect.
This insect emerges over a period of a two or three weeks
during the summer and then it is gone. You can wait it out or protect the fruit
with a barrier of some sort. This could be bird netting or paper bags but I
realize this sounds like a lot of work to protect them for two or three weeks.
I usually just let them have them during this time period. It is not worth
spraying anything.
during the summer and then it is gone. You can wait it out or protect the fruit
with a barrier of some sort. This could be bird netting or paper bags but I
realize this sounds like a lot of work to protect them for two or three weeks.
I usually just let them have them during this time period. It is not worth
spraying anything.
By the way, they love the sound of line trimmers and if you hold one up in the air they will fly a suicide mission directly into the ripping, flying fishing line. Disgusting.