Insect Pest Management
Chili Pepper Production
Several insects attack pepper. The following are some of the most serious pests. [close-ups of these pests and their damage symptoms]

fruitworm
 Tomato fruitworms bore into fruits. Chemical insecticides, Bacillus thuringiensis, and parasitic wasps are used to control this pest before it enters the fruit.

aphids
 Cotton aphids feed on the sap of leaves, causing the foliage to curl. Aphids also create a sugary substance that leads to black sooty mold growth on foliage. Aphids are controlled by the use of chemical insecticides, reflective mulches, and crop rotation.
thrip Thrips also remove sap from foliage, causing midveins to dry and leaves to cup upwards. Thrips are managed by eliminating host weeds, rotating crops, and spraying insecticides.

mites
 Broad mites can be serious pests during hot weather. The tiny pests feed on the underside of leaves causing the foliage to become dry and brittle. Fruits may be scarred. Mites are managed by sowing tolerant varieties, eliminating host weeds, rotating crops, and spraying miticides.
 

 
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