What's eating my bell pepper?

Bell peppers are most threatened by aphids, which spread mosaic viruses and colonise new growth fast. European corn borer and pepper weevil attack fruit directly. Flea beetles riddle seedlings. In many gardens, slugs damage low-hanging fruit. Row covers early and consistent aphid monitoring are essential.

Dense clusters on shoot tips; honeydew and sooty mould; mosaic and mottle virus transmission causing mottled, distorted leaves Reflective silver mulch to disorient aphids; insecticidal soap; weekly water-jet knockdown; introduce parasitic wasps (Aphidius colemani)

Larvae bore into pepper walls and stems; frass-filled entry holes; fruit rots internally Apply Btk at egg hatch; spinosad spray; monitor with pheromone traps; destroy infested fruit promptly

Small puncture marks on fruit where females lay eggs; larvae feed inside causing premature fruit drop Remove and bag dropped fruit; spinosad; avoid planting near nightshade weeds; clean up crop debris at season end

Shothole damage on young leaves; heavy feeding on seedlings can be fatal Row covers until plants are 30 cm tall; kaolin clay on foliage; spinosad for heavy populations