Bug on my fig

[matty-j]

Hey everyone!

I have what looks like some sort of caterpillar on a large fig of mine, I sprayed the tree with white oil today just because I don't have anything on hand at the moment!
Does anyone know what bug it is?

I don't use any pesticide at the moment by I was going to start using confidore would this product be suitable for this type of bug?

Cheers
Matt



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[Paul W]

Look up what we used to call spitfires when we were kids,watch they don`t spit at you, the white oil should have affected them.

[Watto]

They do look like spitfire's but I couldn't be sure. Confidor is a very good all round spray for such issues in my opinion.
Good luck with it.

[Boics]

They are clearly caterpillars and likely party of the spitfire family.
Why not simply remove them and feed them to the birds?
Problem solved and no need for any spray!

[shibui]

I agree with spitfires. They usually eat gumleaves so I'm surprised to see them on a fig.
I think Boics has the right idea - squash them or pick them off and get rid of them but birds may not want to eat them because they usually smell terrible and exude some horrible looking juice when you harass them but they cannot actually harm you. Problem solved.
If you are sqeamish about squashing bugs most pesticides should get them - pyrethrum would be less toxic than others or Dipel should affect them because they are caterpillars.

[matty-j]

Thanks for the feed back everyone!

The white oil did the trick they were all gone the following morning

Cheers
Matt