The first alarm was sounded on the ourfigs.com forum three weeks ago. Now the larvae of the Black Fig Fruit Fly (Silba adipata McAlpine) has been found from Santa Barbara south to at least Orange County. The photo above is from Santa Monica. If your unripe figs appear misshapen or prematurely dark or soft, please cut them open and check for larvae. You can contact the state and they will send out inspectors who will take samples. Their “bug docs” are currently trying to figure out a lure.
The folks at ourfigs.com are also worth joining as they independently track the infestation and hunt down solutions. The fly has been endemic in other parts of the world so there is some research available.
