What's eating my fig 'brown turkey'?

Brown Turkey fig shares the same pest profile as common fig, but its partially open eye (ostiole) makes it more susceptible than closed-eye varieties to the dried-fruit beetle entering and souring the interior. Birds remain the headline threat. Scale and nematodes can also cause long-term decline if ignored.

Ripe figs pecked open or carried off whole; damage accelerates once fruit softens and sweetens Cover with fine netting (less than 25 mm mesh) as figs colour up; remove immediately after harvest to allow air circulation

Enters through the partially open eye of Brown Turkey figs; larvae create fermented, rotting interiors; external appearance may look normal until fruit is cut Harvest figs at full ripeness without delay; remove any fallen or split figs daily; avoid overhead irrigation that wets the eye

Brown waxy crusts on bark and stems; weakens young growth; sooty mould develops on honeydew Prune out affected wood in winter; apply dormant-season horticultural oil; encourage parasitic wasps

Swollen root galls impair nutrient uptake; tree shows yellowing, poor growth and reduced fruit set Mulch well with compost; apply beneficial nematodes; in container culture, use fresh sterile potting mix and inspect roots when repotting