What's eating my 'carolina reaper' pepper?

Carolina Reaper peppers are most threatened by aphids, which cluster under leaves and stunt growth. Pepper weevils, spider mites in hot dry spells, and hornworms can also cause serious damage. In gardens with deer or rabbits, capsaicin deters most browsing — the extreme heat is a natural animal repellent.

Sticky honeydew on leaves, curled or yellowing foliage, stunted shoot tips — colonies cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves. Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly. Encourage ladybugs and lacewings as natural predators.

Larvae tunnel into developing pods and stems, causing buds and small fruits to drop prematurely; adult feeding leaves tiny puncture holes. Remove and destroy dropped fruits immediately. Use row covers early in the season. Spinosad sprays target larvae; rotate crops annually.

Large caterpillars strip entire branches of leaves and chew through developing fruits, often leaving behind dark green droppings. Hand-pick caterpillars in the evening. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to foliage. Look for parasitized hornworms (white egg sacs) and leave those in place.

Fine stippling and bronzing on leaves; fine webbing visible on undersides in hot, dry conditions; severe infestations defoliate plants. Keep plants well-watered during heat. Spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or horticultural oil. Predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) provide biological control.