Dated 6/93
Placed on the Web 3/95 by the Center for Integrated Pest Management, NCSU
Revised: 03/05
(A)adult, (B)larva, (C)pupa
The pepper weevil is a small beetle in the same genus as the cotton boll
weevil. Many consider it the most destructive insect pest on pepper in the United States.
DISTRIBUTION: The pepper weevil is found in the tropical areas of Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Infestations are transported from infested areas on transplants. The pepper weevil is not reported to successfully pass the winter in the Carolinas.
HOSTS: Pepper weevils can complete their life cycle on black nightshade, eggplant and on bell, pimento, banana and chili peppers. Adult weevils, but not their offspring, can survive on other host plants including tomato and horsenettle.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Weevils feed externally on foliage, blossom buds and tender pods. Larvae, or grubs, which feed within buds and pods, account for more damage. Infested buds and blossoms often fall from plants. Larvae usually feed in the seed core of peppers but occasionally tunnel in the pod walls. Infested peppers contain black frass. Infestations usually pass unnoticed until stems of young peppers yellow, wither and drop their fruit. Once a few fallen pods are observed, serious damage has occurred, and many more pods will fall over the following 10 days. Some infested pods prematurely turn red or yellow and may become malformed before dropping to the ground.
LIFE HISTORY: Pepper weevils pass the winter on live pepper or nightshade plants in the more tropical areas of southern Florida, California and Texas. Their entrance into North Carolina results from movement of pepper transplants from infested plant beds in southern Florida. Transplants with blossom buds or small pods are particularly suspect.
In Florida, weevils move from alternate hosts to pepper beds in April and May, where they feed and lay eggs. Females make holes in buds and fruit; they place eggs within ther holes and seal each with a brownish fluid. Each female deposits approximately 200 eggs over a 30-day period. Eggs hatch in 3 to 5 days depending on temperature. Larvae bore into pepper pods and feed for about 10 days. At this time, full-grown larvae construct cells of frass within peppers and pupate. Four to 6 days later, a new generation of beetles emerges. In Florida, 5 to 8 generations occur each year.
CONTROL: The chamce of an infestation in North Carolina pepper fields is greatly reduced by avoiding pepper plants grown in areas where the pepper weevil is a problem. Plants grown in Georgia or locally grown plants are preferred.
Rigid sanitation and spray programs in Florida pepper beds and inspection and certification by regulatory agencies are helpful in preventing weevils from entering North Carolina. However, growers should demand that pepper transplants be free of weevils and relatively free of blossoms and pepper pods. Thorough inspection of pods for deformaties or the presence of aborted fruit could indicate the presence of weevils. When infestations are confirmed, regular sprays ofone of the following are suggested:
| Insecticide and formulation | Amount of Formulation/Acre | Active ingredient/acre | Time limitation to harvest (days) | Precautions and Remarks |
| permethrin | ||||
|
4 to 8 oz. 6 to 12 oz. |
0.1 to 0.2lbs 0.1 to 0.2lbs |
3 | Apply at 7 day intervals when infestation is evident |
(Ambush) |
6 to 12 oz. 6 to 12 oz. |
|
3 | For use on bell pepper. Avoid bringing in plants with fruit from Florida. |
| cyfluthrin | ||||
(Baythroid 2) |
1.6 to 2.8 oz. | 0.04lb | 7 | |
| thiomethoxam | ||||
(Actara) |
3 to 4 oz. | 0.05 to 0.06 | 0 |
To further discourage the chance of weevils overwintering in North Carolina, early and thorough destruction of pepper beds and fields is encouraged.