Common Fig Tree Pests and Diseases: A Comprehensive Guide

Hey there, fig growers! As someone who’s helped thousands of growers with their fig trees over the past decade, I’ve seen it all. One of the most common concerns involves pests and diseases affecting fig trees.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about identifying, preventing, and treating common fig tree problems. Whether the cause is environmental, a pest, or a disease, proper identification is the first step toward a solution. I’ll cover specific pests and diseases, as well as the environmental issues that often mimic them, so you can leave this article ready to fix your fig tree.

First, we’ll walk through leaf-related issues caused by environmental stressors or cultural practices commonly confused with diseases or pest damage. Then, I’ll cover common diseases, followed by pests that target the tree itself and those that specifically affect the fruit."

Common Problems with a Fig Tree's Leaves

Stress often manifests in a fig tree’s leaves, making them excellent indicators of the tree's overall health.

However, not all leaf issues are caused by pests or pathogens. However, first, we’ll look at Fig Mosaic Virus (FMV), which is technically a disease.

Fig Mosaic Virus:

• What it looks like: Pale green spots, streaks, or mottling across the leaves.

• What causes it: All fig trees carry this virus, but the severity of symptoms increases in unhealthy fig trees.

• Prevention: Maintain tree vigor through proper care and nutrition.

• Treatment: Correct nutritional deficiencies, spray a miticide, or use rejuvenation pruning, a technique that encourages new healthy growth, while removing unhealthy areas of your fig tree.

Sunburn:

• What it looks like: Dark or tan patches or streaks along the leaf surface. Often confused with fig rust.

• What causes it: Moving trees too rapidly from indoor or shady conditions into longer-duration direct sunlight. Without a gradual transition, the leaves can't adapt to the intense UV exposure.

• Prevention: Gradually acclimate trees to new light conditions over 1-2 weeks.

• Treatment: The damage is done. Affected leaves will not recover and may fall off. Continue with proper care. New leaves will form.

Related: Sunburn on Fig Leaves | Identifying & Preventing Crispy Fig Tree Leaves

Leaf Scorch:

• What it looks like: Browning of the leaves starting from the outside, moving toward the center. Usually accompanied by yellowing.

• What causes it: Insufficient soil moisture for extended periods, causing stress. Usually accompanied by warm temperatures.

• Prevention: Maintain consistent soil moisture with drip irrigation; provide afternoon shade in extreme climates.

• Treatment: The damage is done. Affected leaves may defoliate. Adjust to ensure proper care.

Pale Green Growth & Chlorosis:

• What it looks like: Old and new growth will be light green in color instead of the normal dark, lush green.

• What causes it: Nutritional deficiencies in the soil, overwatering, or root rot.

• Prevention: Regular fertilization with balanced fertilizer during the growing season.

• Treatment: Apply the appropriate fertilizer; results typically visible within 2-4 weeks

Yellowing Leaves:

What it looks like: The leaves turn yellow and eventually defoliate.

When it occurs: 

1. This naturally occurs every growing season as fig trees slowly go dormant in the fall or winter. Usually, very quickly after a frost.

2. Heavily shaded leaves may also naturally turn yellow and defoliate.

3. Underwatering is the main culprit during the active growing season.

Prevention: Monitor soil moisture regularly; establish a consistent watering schedule, and install drip irrigation.

Treatment: Rehydrate the soil immediately; mulch around the base to retain moisture/

Fungal Issues and Disease Management

Fungal problems often develop in humid conditions or when trees are stressed. Prevention through good cultural practices is key.

Fig Rust:

• What it looks like: Small brown spots on the leaves, leading to defoliation in severe cases.

• What causes it: Fungal spores that thrive in humid conditions.

• Prevention: Ensure proper spacing for airflow, prune for good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and spray with copper or sulfur fungicide.

• Treatment: Focus on improving overall tree health, removing and disposing of infected fallen leaves, improving air circulation, and adding silica to the soil's surface.

Anthracnose:

• What it looks like: Nickel-size or larger black spots all the way through the front and back of the leaves.

• What causes it: A Fungal infection that typically affects stressed or unhealthy trees.

• Prevention: Ensure proper spacing for airflow, prune for good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and spray with copper or sulfur fungicide.

• Treatment: Focus on improving overall tree health, removing and disposing of infected fallen leaves, improving air circulation, and adding silica to the soil's surface.

Root Rot:

• What it causes: Poor growth, yellowing leaves, and eventual tree death

• What causes it: Fungal disease from overwatering and anaerobic soil conditions

• Prevention: Plant in well-draining soil; avoid overwatering; ensure proper drainage

• Treatment: Improve drainage immediately; reduce watering; consider transplanting to a better location; severely affected trees may not recover

Tree-Damaging Pests

These pests attack the tree structure itself and can cause significant damage if left untreated.

Ambrosia Beetle/Borers:

• What they do: Burrow into branches and trunks, eating through wood and causing dieback or tree death.

• Signs: Sawdust around the tree base, small holes in the branches or trunk. Severe tree decline and death.

• Prevention: Remove dead branches annually. Maintain overall tree health.

• Treatment: Look for entry points, use a long wire to kill beetles inside branches, and spray insecticide into the holes.

Aclees taiwanensis:

Check the base of the tree for signs of Aclees taiwanensis

What you're looking for

Find entry point and use wire to kill the pest

• What they do: The fig weevil, Aclees taiwanensis, destroys trees by feeding on leaves and fruit as an adult; however, its most lethal damage occurs when larvae tunnel deep into the trunk and roots, leading to a rapid decline in health and ultimately the plant's demise.

• Signs: Sawdust around the tree base, small holes in the branches or trunk. Severe tree decline and death.

• Prevention: No effective treatment is currently available. I would recommend trying Tanglefoot.

• Treatment: Look for entry points, use a long wire to kill beetles inside branches, and spray insecticide into the holes.

Scale Insects:

• What they do: Suck sap from branches and trunk, reducing tree vigor and potentially killing trees.

• Signs: Small, hard bumps on branches, sticky honeydew residue, ant infestations, reduced vigor, and an increased severity of FMV.

• Prevention: Regular inspection, especially in dry climates.

• Treatment: Neem oil, insecticidal soaps, high-pressure water, hand-rubbing branches, and dormant oils in winter.

Root Knot Nematodes:

• What they do: Create galls on roots, preventing water and nutrient uptake, causing stunted growth and nutrient deficiencies.

• Signs: Poor growth, yellowing, stunted appearance despite good care.

• Prevention: Add organic material to soil, use cover crops, initially plant deeper, and choose resistant rootstock like LSU Purple.

• Treatment: Air layer or take cuttings to propagate a new tree. Improve soil with organic matter. Graft and replant onto resistant rootstock.

Fruit-Damaging Pests

These pests specifically target fig fruits, reducing harvest quality and quantity.

Black Fig Fly (Silba adipata):

• What they do: Lay larvae in unripe figs; larvae eat through the fruit, causing drop and preventing ripening

• Signs: Premature fruit drop, poor fruit development

• Prevention: Remove all fallen fruit immediately; maintain a clean area around the tree

• Treatment: Insect netting; proper sanitation is crucial; commercial sprays are available but not ideal for home use

Spotted Wing Drosophila/Fruit Flies:

• What they do: Lay larvae in fermenting fruit; larvae eat fruit from inside, creating infestations

• Signs: Small flies around fermenting fruit, larvae visible in damaged fruit

• Prevention: Remove fallen, fermenting, or rain-damaged fruit immediately; set up traps

• Treatment: Preventive spraying; maintain scrupulous sanitation around the base of the tree

Wasps (Various):

• What they do: Eat sweet, soft figs as a food source

• Signs: Partially eaten figs, wasp activity around the tree

• Prevention: Remove fermenting fruit; destroy nearby wasp nests when safe to do so

• Treatment: Insect netting over the tree or individual fruit bagging with organza; maintain a clean growing area

Green June Beetles (Cotinis nitida):

• What they do: Large beetles that eat ripe figs are attracted to fermenting fruit

• Signs: Large beetles on or around fig trees, damaged ripe fruit

• Prevention: Harvest fruit promptly; remove fallen and fermenting fruit

• Treatment: Hand removal when possible; maintain a clean area around the tree

Occasional Leaf-Damaging Pests

These pests may affect fig leaves, but are generally less serious threats.

Japanese Beetles:

• What they do: Create holes in fig leaves, though they typically prefer other plants

• Signs: Metallic green beetles, skeletonized leaf damage

• Prevention: Improve soil health; maintain plant vigor; they prefer stressed plants

• Treatment: Hand removal; focus on overall plant health improvement

Spotted Lanternfly:

• What they do: Suck sap from trees, though they usually prefer maples and grapevines over figs

• Signs: Distinctive spotted insects, honeydew secretions

• Prevention: Plant attractive alternatives nearby (maples, grapes); use netting if necessary

• Treatment: Often resolves naturally as populations move to preferred hosts; numbers typically decline over time

Caterpillars (Semathis periana):

• What they do: Greenish-yellow caterpillars eat fig leaves; they drop on silk threads when disturbed

• Signs: Leaf damage, caterpillars on leaf undersides, silk threads

• Prevention: Regular inspection of leaf undersides

• Treatment: BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray is highly effective against all caterpillars

Spider Mites:

• What they do: Suck plant sap; particularly problematic in dry conditions

• Signs: Fine webbing, stippled leaves, tiny moving dots on leaves

• Prevention: Maintain adequate humidity; regular inspection in dry conditions

• Treatment: Insecticidal soaps, neem oil, increased humidity; high-pressure water spray

Fig Mites:

• What they do: Microscopic mites that may spread fig mosaic virus

• Signs: Increased fig mosaic virus symptoms

• Prevention: Rejuvenation pruning; maintain tree vigor

• Treatment: Focus on tree health through pruning and proper care; miticides are available but often unnecessary

  
  

Integrated Management Strategies

The most effective approach to fig tree health combines multiple strategies:

1. Cultural Practices: Proper watering (consistent moisture without waterlogging), excellent drainage, appropriate fertilization, strategic pruning for airflow, and regular sanitation create naturally resistant trees.

   
   

2. Monitoring and Early Detection: Regular inspections allow you to catch problems early, when they're easiest to treat. Check for changes in leaf color, unusual spots, insect activity, and overall tree vigor.

Want to learn more? I’ve identified 11 common mistakes fig growers make—check out my article on those below.