North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University

Kenneth A. Sorensen, Extension Entomologist

Last update to information: June 1993
Last checked by author: May 1996
Revised: 03/05

Many worms feed on or in the fruit of pepper and cause processors and consumers to demand that growers market only worm-free produce. Fortunately, in some years, worm-free peppers can be grown with little or no effort. In other years, growers can hand-sort and remove most infested peppers. But growers can best determine what to do, when to do it and why, by following a systematic approach to pepper worm control every year. Some worms which occur in pepper in North Carolina are pepper weevil, pepper maggot, cabbage looper, tobacco hornworm, beet armyworm, yellowstriped armyworm, fall armyworm, corn earworm, and European corn borer. This insect note addresses the recognition and separation of worms found in pepper. Special emphasis is placed on fall armyworm, corn earworm, and the European corn borer because they are most commonly and frequently encountered.

Field notes for identification of worms feeding in or on pepper fruit:

1. Foliage damage not easily observed. Fruit heavily damaged internally, often containing large droppings or worms. Damaged fruit random throughout the field.

   a. A late season pest that is light tan or green to nearly black in color. Along each side of the body is a longitudinal, pitch-colored stripe and down the back is a wider yellowish-gray stripe. The body is relatively free of hairs and the dark head is often marked with a pale but distinct inverted "Y".
   ...........................FALL ARMYWORM

   b. A mid- to late season pest that is pale striped, black spotted and predominantly yellowish green, brown or reddish brown with a tan to orange head. The worm is moderately hairy and curls up tightly when disturbed. Extensive feeding in the fruit with the presence of large, black droppings and usually the caterpillar itself. There may be a large hole in the side of the fruit.
   ...........................CORN EARWORM

   c. A full season pest that has a pale yellow body, bearing several rows of small, black or brown spots and a black head. Feeding may be in the core or in the seed cavity. Small, brownish fecal pellets may be seen around the fruit cap. The worm spins silk and moves rapidly when disturbed.
   ...........................EUROPEAN CORN BORER

2. Foliage damage observed and often the presence of brightly colored worms. Droppings are abundant and feeding usually occurs on single plants in scattered areas of the field. Fruit sometimes damaged with large holes being present and containing worms.

   a. Smooth-skinned, pale gray to jet black caterpillar with a yellowish-orange strip along each side and a pair of black, triangular spots on most segments of the back.
   ...........................YELLOWSTRIPED ARMYWORM

   b. A green or black caterpillar with a dark head and sometimes three light colored stripes running the length of the body. A black spot may be seen on each side of the body on the second segment behind the head.
   ...........................BEET ARMYWORM

3. Large hole in surface of fruit

   a. Round hole with rough edges, large fecal pellets, entire leaves stripped or presence of large, greenish worm.
   ...........................TOBACCO or TOMATO HORNWORM

   b. Smaller hole with clean edges, small fecal pellets, minor foliage damage or presence and usually the absence of a light green looping worm.
   ...........................CABBAGE LOOPER, see Vegetable Insect Note 40

4. Pepper fruit aborted, misshapened or prematurely ripened. No obvious external evidence of worm damage.

   a. Pods aborted, prematurely ripened and containing dimples. The presence of black frass, legless, plump, brownheaded, creamy white grubs or small blackish beetles with a long snout.
   ...........................PEPPER WEEVIL

   b. Fruit prematurely ripened. The presence of legless, slender, headless maggots feeding in the core.
   ...........................PEPPER MAGGOT

The management and control of worms on peppers consists of adopting as many as possible of the following practices:

1. Destruction or utilization of all crop residues and plant refuse in which corn borers may pass the winter. Clean plowing or planting to a cover crop will destroy and discourage corn earworms.
2. Avoid planting peppers adjacent to cornfields or in fields previously in corn.
3. Plant peppers early to ensure early harvest and avoidance of later generation borers, earworms, and the arrival of fall armyworms. The use of local plants grown in trays will help ensure early harvest. Fruit harvested after July 15 will contain worms unless spraying is based on field sampling or applications are made every 5 days.
4. Adequate fertilizer, water and weed and disease control will favor vigorous plants and increased yields.
5. Black light insect traps should be located near fields and checked regularly to monitor for moth flights. Initial, peak and duration of moth flights will indicate relative population trends and when to scout fields for egg masses and small larvae. Twenty-five moths over 5 days is a good indication of when to intensify field scouting. Remember, these traps only indicate insect levels, they do not control or prevent worms. During mid-season, see the North Carolina Pest News within the Current IPM News for light trap data from certain counties.
6. Careful examination of plants for egg masses and small larvae and fruit samples for entry signs around the stem cap or presence of worms inside the seed cavity should be made in a systematic manner as determined by light traps. Be sure to keep records.
7. The use of foliar insecticides (Orthene, Lannate, Asana, Ambush Avaunt, Baythroid, Intrepid, or Proclaim) should be timed on the basis of field surveys. Initial applications and the frequency of applications can be best determined through field sampling. See the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual for more information.
8. Spray coverage is important. For best results, insecticides should penetrate the bush and wash around the fruit, particularly around the cap. A high pressure sprayer (200 plus or minus psi) with a piston or diaphragm pump with positioned drop nozzles (3 per row) or an airblast sprayer will be required. For best results, use 20+ gallons of water per acre.
9. Immediate destruction of the pepper crop on completion of harvest will help reduce further insect buildup and lower overwintering borers and earworms.

Insect detection through the use of black light insect traps, sex pheremone traps and weekly field scouting and timely applications of insecticides using a high-pressure sprayer are essential if worm-free peppers are to be produced and sold over a long season every year. Pepper insect pests can be effectively managed, but it takes time, training and money. However, the benefits are reduced risk of wormy peppers, optimized production and maximized profits. If you are interested in this efficient management approach to pepper pest control, contact your county extension agent for more timely information.

Recommendations of specific chemicals are based upon information on the manufacturer's label and performance in a limited number of trials. Because environmental conditions and methods of application by growers may vary widely, performance of the chemical will not always conform to the safety and pest control standards indicated by experimental data.

Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact your county North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service agent.

• Back to Vegetable Insect Notes
• Insect Notes Home Page
• HIL-21 Pepper Production (Bell, Small Fruit, and Pimento) or PDF version of HIL-21
• Horticulture Information Leaflets
• Plant Disease Information Notes
• North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual
• NCCES Educational Resources

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Web page last updated by M.J. Munster on 21 May 1996