I am no expert on pests in your area but it looks like the leaves have lots of sun damage and you may have mites or something similar since something is attracting the ants.

The Sun damage is likely due to the fig being grown in greenhouse and then brought out in the bright sun for too many hours/day. When a tree is suffering it helps to give it some shade maybe under a tree.

IMO don't think its a great idea to try and kill the ants like you are trying to do. The ants are visiting the sick tree to perform a job to help tree get rid of the pests once tree is healthy they will leave. Ants may come back to tell you figs are ripe. Tightly applied organza bags are best to keep the ants off the figs.

Good luck with it.

I am not a fig expert by any means, but over the years I have grown figs with varying levels of success and failure. I would first be concerned with the possibility of your tree having the dreaded Fig Mosaic virus. If you get a tree with that virus it will always have it and can spread to other healthy. For years, I was apparently dealing with this issue and did not realize it. Maybe one of the fig experts can tell you if that's what you're dealing with (or not).

The other issue I did I have had with figs is keeping their roots on the cooler side..., they seem to really resent hot and dry roots (even if once stablished they are quite drought tolerant). You're tree went in very recently at a hot time of the year and if you've been dry, it may be the issue.

These days, my figs have never been better, no dreaded mosaic virus plants, and it's been wet and they have TAKEN OFF! They will need a few years to become established..., assuming your tree is essentially healthy. Also, the ants are not the issue; they came but you're tree was troubled first.

Update: it turns out it wasn't getting enough water, I guess the ants were just a response to a distressed plant. New green healthy leaves were grown and the old leaves eventually fell off.

Ants all over a plant tends to indicate there is a sucking pest (such as aphids) they are coming to for honeydew. Also the damage your photos showed is typical of sucking pest infestations.

J M,

Watering a fig tree when it is young, for the first couple years, is crucial. Once a fig tree is well established under good growing conditions, watering needs are minimal in Virginia. They develope powerful root systems as they mature, and are quite drought resistant/proof at that point. Actually, average soil can be too rich for a fig tree, but perfect drainage is critical. Water logged, poor draining soil/low spots kill fig trees.

I think you are on your way to good success, and I wish it continues for you.

Moses