Top Pests to Monitor in Greenhouse Peppers

Posted by Brian Sparks|August 19, 2020

Green peach aphids on underside of chili pepper leaf.
Photo by David Riley

In any integrated pest management or biological controls program, success depends on correct identification of pest problems, regular monitoring, careful timing and integration of complementary control measures. It also depends on good clean-up, sanitation and other measures that remove breeding sites for pests and prevent them from entering the greenhouse.

In greenhouse peppers, primary pests include fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.), western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), two-spotted mites (Tetranychus urticae), green peach aphids (Myzus persicae), and greenhouse whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). Lygus bugs, cabbage loopers, and other species of aphids also occur.

Pepper plants have three characteristics that enhance the use of biological controls:

The presence of pollen and nectar in the flowers. This provides an alternative food source for some biological controls (i.e. predatory bugs and mites, such as ‘Orius’ and ‘Cucumeris’, making them easier to establish.
Smooth leaves. This means that predators are able to travel freely over the leaves and between plants, without being hindered by hairs as they are on cucumber and tomato leaves.
Limited leaf pruning is necessary. This retains leaves of all ages, allowing all stages of biological controls to reproduce and complete their life cycles without disturbance.

Sound Horticulture offers several practical tips for achieving good results using biological controls against pests in greenhouse peppers. Learn more here.