Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

Fig Tree Damage

Fig Tree Damage thumbnail
Fig trees can be damaged by a number of pests.

Fig trees are deciduous trees that produce a fruit called a fig. A fig tree can grow 10 to 30 feet tall and equally as wide. The fig tree may suffer damage from various forms. This includes fungi, beetles, nematodes and other insects. They can attack the root system, leaves, and particularly the fruit that it bears and leaves the fig tree susceptible to damage. Does this Spark an idea?

  1. Leaf Rust

    • Leaf rust is a serious fungal disease that commonly affects the fig tree. It is caused by a fungus that attacks the leaves and causes yellow spots. Over time, it causes defoliation and decreased yields. It is more common in rainy seasons and areas of high humidity.

    Beetles

    • Flea and leaf beetles cause damage to fig trees. They damage the shoots and leaves. Other beetles such as sourbug and dried fruit beetles can cause souring of the fig fruit. As they feed on the figs, they leave behind a fungus that causes the fruit to sour. Fig tree producers speed up the ripening of the fig tree to avoid insects such as beetles from eating and spoiling the fruit.

    Vinegar Flies

    • Vinegar flies, commonly called fruit flies, are attracted to the smell of rotting figs that fall off of the tree and onto the ground. They then feed on the fruit on the tree and carry bacteria and fungus into the figs. This causes the fruit to sour.

    Nematodes

    • Nematodes are parasitic worms that are found in the soil. The fig tree is susceptible to nematodes. They attack the roots of the fig tree and cause damage to them. This leads to stunted growth. There may not be any obvious signs of damage besides the stunted growth early on, but if you look in the soil near the roots, you will see a large gall, or swelling on the roots. Eventually, nematodes can destroy the root system, which will kill the fig tree.

    Fig Wasp

    • Blastophaga grossorum is a tiny wasp that pollinates fig trees. The wasps themselves are not destructive to fig trees, but in the process of pollination, they can introduce various bacteria and fungus into the fig tree. This can lead to decreased yields and souring of the fruit.

Related Searches:

References

  • Photo Credit fig image by hazel proudlove from Fotolia.com

Comments

You May Also Like

  • How to Grow Fig Trees in Florida

    One of the oldest fruits known to man, figs have been tempting tasting buds since 5,000 B.C. While fig trees traditionally grow...

  • Brown Beetles on Fig Trees

    Brown Beetles on Fig Trees. Fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is a native of Western Asia and is widely distributed throughout the...

  • Fig Tree Diseases

    Figs are considered hardy trees with relatively few disease or pest issues. They do have specific diseases to which they are susceptible....

  • Fig Tree Facts

    Fig trees produce two large crops each year and grow wider than they are tall. Potted in a tub, they can be...

  • Clay Soil Fruit Tree Varieties

    Fig trees adapt well to a variety of soil types. Steve Allen/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  • How to Fertilize Brown Turkey Fig Trees

    The Brown Turkey Fig (Ficus carica) is a small tree grown as far north as USDA horticultural zone 5 in well-drained soil...

  • Fig Tree Rust Fungus

    Fig trees, scientifically known as Ficus carica, display large green leaves with tiny flowers collected inside the green fruit (synconium), and have...

  • How to Care for a Fig Tree

    Figs, typically a warm climate crop, are a challenging tree from which to produce fruit. But with the advent of the self-pollinating...

  • Fungus on Fig Trees

    Fungus on Fig Trees. Fig trees are potentially an excellent way to grow fruit at home. Fig trees grow well in the...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured