New pest of fig

The Black Fig Fly (Silba adipata) has been reported in multiple locations in Southern California. This pest is endemic to the Mediterranean and its only known host is Ficus carica, the edible fig. It has not yet been found in the Central Valley, which contains the majority of commercial fig orchards in the state. Damage occurs when Black Fig Flies lay their eggs in developing fig fruit, which results in early fruit drop.

McPhail traps are known to be effective at capturing this fly when baited with hexanol or ammonium sulfate. Please contact your county agricultural commissioner if you see this pest in your figs.

More information can be found here:

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=49051

Damage from the black fig fly

Black fig fly life stages