What's eating my fish pepper?

Fish peppers, an heirloom African-American cultivar, are susceptible to the same outdoor pests as other Capsicum annuum varieties: aphids, hornworms, and flea beetles. The plants' bushy habit and thin skin make them particularly attractive to flea beetles early in the season when seedlings are establishing.

Clustered colonies on tender growing tips; honeydew, sooty mold, and curled distorted leaves Water jet knockoff; insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; companion plant with nasturtiums as a trap crop

Tiny round shot-holes scattered across leaves, especially on young seedlings; heavy infestations stunt plants Row covers until plants are established; diatomaceous earth around base; sticky yellow traps; spinosad spray for severe infestations

Rapid defoliation; large frass pellets beneath plants indicate feeding; stems stripped clean Hand-pick caterpillars; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki); leave parasitized hornworms (white egg cases) in place