Knowledgebase
Assistance Needed for Jamaican Hot Pepper Plant Pest Issue #869817
Asked May 23, 2024, 4:00 PM EDT
Wake County North Carolina
Expert Response
There are a number of pests that can damage pepper leaves from aphids to caterpillars to beetles to slugs. Many of these pests feed at night so it's hard to determine what pest is causing your problems but the damage looks like you might have some type of beetle, worm or slug/snail. If possible, take a look at your plants in the evening/night. Check the back of the leaves to see if you can find the pest. If you find caterpillars/worms or beetles just pick them off and destroy them. Here is some information on pests of pepper plants.
Common Insects Attacking Peppers | Entomology (uky.edu)
Pests of Peppers | NC State Extension Publications (ncsu.edu)
Check around your plants for slime trails which are indicative of slug/snail damage. Caterpillars/beetles will leave fecal droppings so if you see fecal droppings, you have some type of caterpillar/worm/beetle. Here is some information on slugs and snails.
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants | NC State Extension Publications (ncsu.edu)
Slugs in home gardens | UMN Extension
You don't have a lot of damage to your pepper plants so you may not want to spray them with an insecticide. It's best to determine what causing the damage before using an insecticide. Sometimes just a good spray of water or soapy water will remove insects from leaves.
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