Peppers as a fruit vegetable attract numerous insects. But pests also like to eat the plants. You can find out what these are and how you can effectively combat and drive away the pests here:
What pests occur on pepper plants and how do you fight them?
Common pests on pepper plants include lice, aphids, red spiders, weevils, snails, fungus gnats, thrips, whiteflies and bedbugs. Natural predators, showering with water, planting herbs and targeted plant protection measures are suitable for combating them.
- Lice and Aphids
- Red Spider
- other pests
Lice and aphids on young shoots and leaves
Lice can be easily recognized when you look closely at the plants. They sit on leaves and shoots. Their sucking causes the leaves to curl or curl. The sugary lice secretion runs over the plant and is popular with many insects. For example, ant trails form towards the lice in order to milk them. Viruses and sooty mold fungi also spread on the honeydew of the lice and cause additional damage to pepper cultivation.
Countermeasures for lice
Support the natural lice killers! Such as wasps, ladybirds, ground beetles, hoverflies and lacewings. When using sprays, pay attention to products that are gentle on beneficial insects and at the same time prevent pepper diseases. Hose off with stale water and wipe off lice (€17.00 on Amazon) with a wooden spatula. Then let the peppers dry.
Red spiders discolor leaf tips
If the red spider (fruit tree spider mite) spreads across the peppers, the tips of the leaves turn dark. There are dark stitch marks on the leaves. Later the leaves curl up and fall off.
Countermeasures for red spiders:
There are enough natural red spider killers so that you can avoid using chemicals.
Shower the affected peppers vigorously with lukewarm water. Especially on the undersides of the leaves. Spraying the plants with nettle broth and horsetail broth also works. If the infestation is very severe, spray with soapy water or skimmed milk.
More voracious pepper enemies:
- Weevils
- Snails
- Sad gnats
- Thrips
- Whiteflies
- Bugs
Effective countermeasures for various pepper pests
If the natural balance is right and the peppers receive the right care, there are enough natural enemies such as wasps, ladybirds, ground beetles, hoverflies and lacewings in the garden and in the greenhouse. Provided the greenhouse is not hermetically sealed and the windows where the peppers are are opened.
Tips & Tricks
An herb has grown against every pest. You can place pots of herbs like savory, lavender, sage, thyme, or garlic among the pepper plants. Additionally, spread clove powder on the potting soil and water. Most pepper pests don't particularly like this and disappear after a while.
