Insect
Pepper Weevil
A small dark weevil 2 - 3 mm long whose larvae develop inside pepper fruits, causing them to turn yellow and drop prematurely well before maturity.
Symptoms to Look For
- Peppers turning yellow and dropping from the plant while still small
- Larvae and frass found inside dropped immature fruit
- Adult feeding punctures visible as tiny holes at the fruit surface
Affected Plants
Pepper
Organic Solutions
Remove dropped fruit
Collect and destroy all dropped peppers immediately to prevent larvae completing development and pupating in the soil.
Row covers
Cover pepper plants with fine insect mesh to exclude adults, removing for ventilation during the hottest part of the day.
Prevention
- Inspect plants daily during fruiting and remove any peppers showing yellowing before larvae can complete development
- Avoid growing peppers in the same spot for consecutive seasons
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.