Bugs of doom eating my pepper plants :(

Last post 07-09-2009 5:42 PM by bogweevil. 2 replies.

Previous	Page 1 of 1 (3 items)	Next
Sort Posts:

06/09/2009 12:23 PM
Kirsty Location: Wakefield Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 1	Reply \| Contact Hi. I have only this year attempted to grow my own fruit and vegetables in the garden. I have put a lot of hardwork into my garden, and I have been trying to grow my plants with out the use of pesticides. When I had white fly on my lettuces I used garlic in water and sprayed them twice a day. The white fly soon went and the lettuces are really good. However I am puzzled as now I have a new creature in my garden eating my pepper plant. My pepper plant is loosing its leaves, the peppers that were growing on it have fallen off and died, and also where the stems meet this area is going black. After looking closely this morning I noticed that there were little black dots on the peppers that could have been eggs? Then I saw this little tiny black and white insect of some description, I think that it may have had wings, there did not seem to be any other bugs that were noticeable on it. Does anybody know what these creatures may be, and how I can eradicate or relocate them? I am sorry that the description is poor of these insects but I am a complete newbie. Also if anybody may be able to help, will these creatures move onto my other plants? My strawberry plant is close to the pepper plant and is currently trying to take over the garden, and as of yet is unaffected, but should I move it? Thank you for any help that people may be able to suggest. Kirsty

06/09/2009 12:23 PM

Kirsty
Location:
Wakefield
Joined on:
06 Sep 2009
Posts:
1

Reply | Contact

Hi.

I have only this year attempted to grow my own fruit and vegetables in the garden.

I have put a lot of hardwork into my garden, and I have been trying to grow my plants with out the use of pesticides. When I had white fly on my lettuces I used garlic in water and sprayed them twice a day. The white fly soon went and the lettuces are really good.

However I am puzzled as now I have a new creature in my garden eating my pepper plant. My pepper plant is loosing its leaves, the peppers that were growing on it have fallen off and died, and also where the stems meet this area is going black.

After looking closely this morning I noticed that there were little black dots on the peppers that could have been eggs? Then I saw this little tiny black and white insect of some description, I think that it may have had wings, there did not seem to be any other bugs that were noticeable on it.

Does anybody know what these creatures may be, and how I can eradicate or relocate them?

I am sorry that the description is poor of these insects but I am a complete newbie.

Also if anybody may be able to help, will these creatures move onto my other plants? My strawberry plant is close to the pepper plant and is currently trying to take over the garden, and as of yet is unaffected, but should I move it?

Thank you for any help that people may be able to suggest.

Kirsty

07/09/2009 08:45 AM	In reply to
Pesty Location: Joined on: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 94	Reply \| Contact Have the leaves fallen off or been eaten away? I suspect it’s may not be insect damage and instead something cultural or a disease. Little black and white bugs may be shield bug nymphs - whilst some suck sap most do not cause any damage – they would not cause the plants to collapse in the way you describe. If it is a pest glasshouse red spider mite may be a possibility if the leaves went mottled yellow before they dropped – check the underside of the leaves for signs of webbing and mites (need a hand lens to see the mites which are not often red, but pale green with two dark markings) Hope that is some help. 'Trying is the first step to failure' H.J.Simpson

07/09/2009 08:45 AM

In reply to

Pesty
Location:
Joined on:
24 Nov 2005
Posts:
94

Reply | Contact

Have the leaves fallen off or been eaten away?

I suspect it’s may not be insect damage and instead something cultural or a disease. Little black and white bugs may be shield bug nymphs - whilst some suck sap most do not cause any damage – they would not cause the plants to collapse in the way you describe.

If it is a pest glasshouse red spider mite may be a possibility if the leaves went mottled yellow before they dropped – check the underside of the leaves for signs of webbing and mites (need a hand lens to see the mites which are not often red, but pale green with two dark markings)

Hope that is some help.

'Trying is the first step to failure' H.J.Simpson

07/09/2009 05:42 PM	In reply to
bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043	Reply \| Contact The Bogweevil's pepper crop (which is considerable) suffers from sclerotinia disease - it is easily checked for: http://books.google.com/books?id=iPgTGhaGRl4C&pg=PA210&lpg=PA210&dq=peppers+sclerotinia&source=bl&ots=0kPLcyo1-E&sig=gUlhVV0vRJLAOdUFB-s1nox21TY&hl=en&ei=9zilSsbjHKCOjAec9dycDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=onepage&q=peppers%20sclerotinia&f=false Boggy Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

07/09/2009 05:42 PM

In reply to

bogweevil
Location:
Joined on:
02 Mar 2004
Posts:
2,043

Reply | Contact

The Bogweevil's pepper crop (which is considerable) suffers from sclerotinia disease - it is easily checked for: http://books.google.com/books?id=iPgTGhaGRl4C&pg=PA210&lpg=PA210&dq=peppers+sclerotinia&source=bl&ots=0kPLcyo1-E&sig=gUlhVV0vRJLAOdUFB-s1nox21TY&hl=en&ei=9zilSsbjHKCOjAec9dycDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=onepage&q=peppers%20sclerotinia&f=false

Boggy

Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

Page 1 of 1 (3 items)

My Garden

The RHS’s online community for gardeners

Active members

Bugs of doom eating my pepper plants :(