Pest identification
What's eating my 'padrón' pepper?
Aphids (Myzus persicae and others)
Signs: Soft colonies on shoot tips; honeydew; stunted growth; virus risk on young plants.
Control: Insecticidal soap spray; water blast; reflective mulch at base; avoid excess nitrogen feeding.
Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)
Signs: Silvery streaks and scarring on young fruits; distorted leaves; pollen-feeding scars visible on skin.
Control: Blue sticky traps to detect early; spinosad or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested growing tips.
Flea beetle (Epitrix spp.)
Signs: Multiple small holes in leaves of newly transplanted seedlings; can weaken establishment.
Control: Floating row covers for 2–3 weeks after transplant; kaolin clay on foliage; remove covers once plants are sturdy.
Keep 'padrón' pepper pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
'Padrón' Pepper pests — FAQ
What is eating my 'padrón' pepper?
'Padrón' pepper is a small Spanish variety grown for young green fruits. Aphids are the most common pest, clustering on soft new growth. Flea beetles attack young transplants. Thrips scar the thin-skinned fruits. Because Padrón is typically harvested small and early, pest windows are shorter than for larger peppers, but early-season protection still matters.
How do I get rid of aphids (myzus persicae and others) on 'padrón' pepper?
Soft colonies on shoot tips; honeydew; stunted growth; virus risk on young plants. Insecticidal soap spray; water blast; reflective mulch at base; avoid excess nitrogen feeding.
How do I get rid of thrips (frankliniella occidentalis) on 'padrón' pepper?
Silvery streaks and scarring on young fruits; distorted leaves; pollen-feeding scars visible on skin. Blue sticky traps to detect early; spinosad or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested growing tips.
How do I get rid of flea beetle (epitrix spp.) on 'padrón' pepper?
Multiple small holes in leaves of newly transplanted seedlings; can weaken establishment. Floating row covers for 2–3 weeks after transplant; kaolin clay on foliage; remove covers once plants are sturdy.