The little b*#$@*&s have bored into just about evey inch of the trunks, top to bottom. Some have maybe 100 frass tubes sticking out of 3 feet of trunk. I can post a photo later. The only fig that seems to have partially escaped is Hardy Chicago, which is also the least damaged from the freeze. The HC has two trunks. One has a few beetles, the other none at all. The one with nothing is leafing out strongly now. A couple of the trees are so damaged and weak, that I should probably cut them back anyway. They are sending up new strong shoots from the base. I wonder what keeps the fungus/beetles in check in China? Maybe a hypovirulent form of the fungus?

Sammy, I remember your earlier post about these several weeks ago, and I had been wondering if anyone else has seen them. I have hackberry trees on the edge of the woods very close to my veggie garden, but I've never seen the aphids on them or anywhere else. It is possible they haven't made it to our part of the state yet. Did the ladybugs show up and take care of them for you? And, is there any long-term way to manage them, or will it just be an annual battle between the aphids and the lady bugs? I'd hate to think they are going to be a permanent and ongoing problem for you. Dawn

The two winged critters aren't flies. Instead, they're winged aphids, a normal occurrence when the colony becomes crowded. Long-legged flies have a metallic body and hold their wings out to the side, also horizontal. Further, their antennae are very short. Aphids aren't metallic, and their wings are held tent-like over the abdomen. Aphid antennae, although admittedly difficult to see in the above photo, are typically -- but not always -- quite long.

Ok, all you organic enthusiasts plug your ears...I only did this because of the warm winters and knew I wasn't going to get any fruits on my Lychees. I planted my trees and pretty much disregarded all care due to complete demo and rebuild of the house I moved into...After looking at my Lychees one day I realized all the leaves were chewed apart and come to find out it was the Sri Lanka weevil..I spent many mornings picking this insect of and squishing them...even recruited my daughter to assist...After seeing the weevil multiply uncontrollably I went for Sevin...with only temporary relief..I found something in my garage I had purchased for mosquitos at the last house I rented called Cutter backyard bug control...I used in combination with neeem oil... Iwent from seeing about 50 weevils on my plants a day to maybe one a week...anyway I know its not organic so please dont lecture me but I something had ti give...