What's eating my 'shishito' pepper?

Shishito peppers share the same pest profile as most Capsicum annuum varieties: aphids are the number-one nuisance, clustering on tender growth. Flea beetles punch tiny holes in leaves, and European corn borers tunnel into fruits. Deer and rabbits generally avoid peppers due to their mild but still present capsaicin.

Dense colonies on new shoots cause leaf curl, honeydew deposits, and sooty mold. Aphids also vector cucumber mosaic virus in peppers. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil at first sign. Introduce ladybugs or parasitic wasps. Remove heavily infested shoot tips by hand.

Numerous tiny round holes ('shot-holes') peppered across leaves, especially on seedlings and young transplants in spring. Use floating row covers until plants are established. Diatomaceous earth around the base deters adults. Spinosad sprays reduce populations effectively.

Larvae bore into pepper stems and fruits; entry holes with frass visible; fruits may rot at entry point or drop early. Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) to foliage before larvae enter stems. Remove and destroy infested fruits. Use pheromone traps to monitor adult flight.