What's eating my fig 'celeste'?

Celeste's tight, closed ostiole (eye) is a genuine advantage — it physically blocks the dried-fruit beetle that plagues open-eyed varieties. However, birds still target its exceptionally sweet, light-coloured flesh aggressively. Scale and root-knot nematodes are the main insect threats across all fig varieties including Celeste.

Sweet, pale flesh of Celeste is very attractive to birds; ripe figs pecked or taken whole, often before the grower notices them Fine-mesh netting (under 25 mm) draped over the canopy is the only reliably effective control; begin netting as fruit starts to soften

Waxy, brown or grey bumps encrust young bark; heavy infestations cause dieback of twigs; sooty mould follows honeydew deposits Prune affected wood in late winter; spray dormant horticultural oil before bud break; ladybirds and parasitic wasps control populations naturally

Root galls restrict water and nutrient uptake; trees show unthrifty growth, pale foliage, and reduced fruiting over time Enrich soil with compost to promote beneficial soil organisms; apply beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora); rotate planting areas if possible