Leslie Massey
Capsicums are easy to grow and can be picked at almost any time, but they are susceptible to pests and diseases. If you're growing capsicums in Australia, you may find that your capsicum leaves are being eaten by caterpillars, earwigs, grasshoppers, slugs, snails, or other types of insects. Possums, rats, and mice may also be responsible, as they are attracted to certain types of plants and can cause significant damage to seedlings. To protect your capsicum plants from pests, you can try crop rotation, shade cloth, or pest control measures such as netting, insecticides, or pesticides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common pests | Caterpillars, earwigs, grasshoppers, slugs, snails, possums, rats, mice, birds, aphids, grubs, whitefly, fruit flies, weevils, African black beetles |
| Pest damage | Small holes in leaves, leaves disappearing, whole leaves or plants ripped from the ground, visible nibbling, droppings, slow growth, wilting, yellowing foliage, destroyed leaf edges, damage to root system |
| Pest control | Squashing eggs and caterpillars, covering plants with fine white netting, insecticides, fungicides, pesticides, spraying calcium nitrate, crop rotation, weed control, black or reflective plastic mulch, shadecloth, trellising, pruning |
| Pest attractors | Sunburn, wind, high nitrogen, low watering, heat, drought, over-ripe capsicums, closely planted crops, overfertilisation |
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What You'll Learn
Caterpillars, earwigs, and other insects
Capsicums are susceptible to viruses and pests, such as caterpillars, earwigs, and other insects. Caterpillars are very damaging to vegetables and can be hard to see, but you can look for small holes in the leaves that continue to grow. If you spot damaged leaves, look closely along the midrib of the leaf and on both sides for signs of eggs or caterpillars. To control caterpillar infestations, you can try squashing eggs and caterpillars, covering plants with fine white netting to prevent female caterpillars from laying eggs, or using natural insecticides like Nature's Way Caterpillar Killer Dipel.
Earwigs can also feed on seedlings and transplants. The European earwig, in particular, is known for attacking plants and can be identified by its shiny black or dark brown body and long yellow legs. While not all earwig species will harm your veggies, the European earwig is one to watch out for.
Other insects that may be eating your capsicum leaves include aphids, fruit flies, and whiteflies. Aphids are a major pest problem in Perth, while fruit flies are most active in warm climates and target soft fruits like capsicums. Whiteflies are resistant to most chemicals, making them difficult to control with sprays. To manage whiteflies, try trapping them with yellow sticky traps in a glasshouse setting or planting native flowering plants to attract small birds that prey on whiteflies.
To prevent pest infestations, it is important to practice good weed control and crop rotation. Capsicums are related to tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes, so rotating these crops with a three-year interval can help reduce the risk of pests and diseases. Additionally, shaded crops can help protect capsicums from sunburn and wind damage, and regular spraying may be necessary during certain seasons to control pests and diseases.
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Slugs and snails
To control slugs and snails in your garden, you can try the following methods:
- Using a commercial slug and snail bait. These baits contain iron phosphate, which is a natural substance that is toxic to slugs and snails.
- Creating a beer trap by burying a cup or can in the ground and filling it with beer. The slugs and snails will be attracted to the yeast in the beer and will crawl in and drown.
- Hand-picking the slugs and snails from your garden at night. This is time-consuming, but it will definitely reduce the population.
- Maintaining good air circulation around your plants by pruning lower leaves, limiting mulch, and providing adequate drainage.
- Removing debris from the garden before planting or after the season by raking out leaves and dead plants to remove any slug or snail eggs that may have overwintered in your garden.
- Drawing slugs and snails out of their hiding places by watering the area with slug or snail activity in the late afternoon. Once it gets dark, go back into the garden with a flashlight and hand-pick the slugs and snails, placing them in a bucket of soapy water.
- Using diatomaceous earth, a natural insecticide that can be sprinkled over the entire plant to deter slugs, snails, and other bugs.
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Rats and mice
- Stems, roots, and bulbs are affected, as well as fruits.
- Clear signs of nibbling or scratching on the stem.
To prevent rats and mice from eating your capsicum leaves, you can try various methods:
- Use traps: You can use basic mouse traps with peanut butter, or try live traps with a small amount of peanut butter at the end.
- Drowning: You can put 5-gallon buckets with a few inches of water in holes in the ground. The mice will fall in while trying to reach the water and drown.
- Natural predators: A Jack Russell or a cat can help catch the mice.
- Remove food sources: Keep your garden and home clean and free of food scraps that may attract rats and mice.
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Birds
White-winged doves are one bird species that has a particular fondness for chilli plants, and will take the peppers on the day they turn red. Birds are less likely to eat your chilli plants at night, but they may get to your peppers early in the morning, so it is worth putting up bird protection around your plants.
In addition to birds, there are several other pests that may be eating your capsicum leaves. Insects and other mammals, such as pepper weevils, hornworms, snails, rabbits, and even possums and rats, may be responsible for damage to your capsicum plants. These pests tend to eat the fruit of the capsicum plant, rather than the leaves, although caterpillars will eat holes in the leaves, as well as the stems and fruit.
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Pesticides and fungicides
Capsicum plants are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases, including caterpillars, aphids, grubs, powdery mildew, and bacterial spot. To protect your capsicum plants from these threats, you can employ a range of pesticides and fungicides.
When choosing a pesticide or fungicide, it is important to select a product that is suitable for use on edible plants and to carefully follow the instructions on the label. You should also check with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (AVPMA) for the latest options for pest control.
One natural pesticide option is capsaicin, which is an extract of the fruits of the Capsicum plant. Capsaicin is a biochemical pesticide that is effective at repelling vertebrate pests such as rabbits, squirrels, deer, voles, raccoons, cats, dogs, and skunks. It can also be used as an attack deterrent for dogs and bears. However, if there is any exposure to capsaicin, it is important to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label and contact a poison control center if needed.
Another natural option is to use pure Capsicum extracts and purified capsaicinoids, which have demonstrated fungicidal and fungistatic activities. These natural-based fungicides and pesticides have low toxicity to non-target organisms and can be used as eco-friendly alternatives to pest management.
Additionally, you can try Flower Power's eco-fungicide, which is recommended for controlling fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. They also suggest milk sprays as a home remedy—a mixture of 1 part full-cream milk to 9-10 parts water.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several pests that could be responsible for eating your capsicum leaves. These include caterpillars, earwigs, grasshoppers, slugs, snails, and whiteflies. Possums, rats, and mice may also be attracted to your capsicum plants.
If you see small holes in your leaves that appear to be growing, this may indicate caterpillars. Check the leaves for signs of eggs, and look closely along the midrib of the leaf and on both the back and front.
You can remove caterpillars by hand, squashing them and their eggs, or use a natural insecticide like Nature's Way Caterpillar Killer Dipel. Protect your plants by covering them with fine white netting to prevent the female from laying eggs.
Slugs and snails devour leaves gradually, so you may see small holes in your leaves that get bigger over time. They can also chew small plants down to ground level.
To get rid of slugs and snails, you can use slug pellets or set beer traps. You can also create a barrier around your capsicum plants with diatomaceous earth, copper tape, or crushed eggshells, which will deter these pests.
