Pepper Weevil
Scientific group or name: Anthonomus eugenii
Overview
Pepper weevil is a small beetle whose larvae develop inside flower buds and fruit, making early infestations difficult to see.
Host plants
Sweet peppers, chilli peppers and related Solanaceae.
Identification
Adults are small, dark and strongly curved-snouted. Larvae are pale, legless grubs concealed inside buds or fruit.
Damage and symptoms
Infested buds and fruit may yellow, distort or drop. Internal feeding and contamination make fruit unmarketable.
Lifecycle and favourable conditions
Warm protected environments and continuous pepper production allow populations to persist.
Monitoring
Inspect fallen buds and fruit, use appropriate traps and check suspect material by cutting it open.
Management
Use clean plants, remove fallen and infested fruit promptly, maintain strict crop-free hygiene and prevent movement between production areas.
Biological control and natural enemies
Biological options are limited by the protected feeding site. Natural enemies may attack exposed adults or stages outside fruit, but sanitation is essential.
Biological control should be selected only after the pest has been identified and the crop, temperature, growing environment and pest pressure have been considered.
Related BioWiki pages
This page provides general integrated pest-management information. Identification and control decisions should be confirmed for the crop and local situation.