Damon Mcknight
Chilli plants are usually quite pest-free, as most pests do not like the spicy taste of chillies. However, there are some creatures that can damage chilli plants, such as caterpillars, worms, larvae, slaters, slugs, snails, and even possums and rats. In addition, there are several insects that can infest chilli plants, including aphids, thrips, whiteflies, leafminers, and psyllids. These insects can cause significant damage by consuming and feeding on the leaves, stems, and other parts of the chilli plant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Animals | Possums, rats, caterpillars, worms, larvae, slaters, slugs, snails, earwigs, birds |
| Insects | Aphids, thrips, whiteflies, leafminers, psyllids, ants, flies |
| Pest symptoms | Leaves munched, holes in pods, discoloured patches on leaves, discarded white egg-casings, sticky residue on leaves, twisted and distorted new growth, slime trails, speckled appearance on leaves, distorted leaves, browning patches on leaves, curled leaves, small discoloured spots, silvering of the leaf surface |
| Pest prevention | Copper tape, natural pyrethrum, garlic and chilli spray, yellow paper sticky fly traps, Derris dust, Diatomaceous Earth, Gnat Off, salt baths, beer traps, slug pellets, porridge oats, scissors |
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What You'll Learn
Caterpillars, worms, and larvae
One effective measure is to use Dipel as an insecticide. Alternatively, you can manually pick off the caterpillars, worms, and larvae by hand. Regular inspections of the chilli plant leaves, especially the undersides, are essential to detect and control aphids, which are another common pest. These tiny insects feed on the sap of the leaves, causing leaf drop and weakening the plant.
To address an aphid infestation, you can employ natural pyrethrum, Confidor, or a garlic and chilli spray. If you opt for the garlic and chilli spray, you may create your own mixture or purchase a ready-made spray from a garden shop. This spray not only repels pests but also provides a natural source of fertiliser for your plants. It is important to remember that after spraying, you should monitor the plants and repeat the process if the aphids persist.
In addition to these targeted treatments, implementing preventive measures can be beneficial. For instance, you can create a natural barrier around your chilli plants by using copper tape, which deters slugs and snails from climbing up and feeding on them. This simple yet effective method can reduce the risk of damage caused by these pests.
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Possums and rats
Rats are also a common culprit when it comes to chilli plant damage. They can find their way through small spaces and have been known to eat partially ripe chillies, leaving behind distinct bite marks. Rats are also responsible for damaging other crops, such as broccoli and cauliflower, by eating the small heads as they start to form.
To protect chilli plants from possums and rats, physical barriers are often the most effective method. While chicken wire and netting may deter possums initially, they can often find a way through. Sturdier options, such as wire mesh or steel fencing, may be more successful in keeping possums out. For rats, wire mesh with small apertures (e.g. 6mm) is recommended to prevent them from squeezing through.
In addition to physical barriers, some repellents are available, such as "Poss Off", but their effectiveness may vary. One user suggested planting chilli plants as a sacrificial offering to deter possums, as they are known to dislike the taste of chillies. However, this method may not work for all possums, and some may even use chilli paste as a condiment!
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Thrips
Chilli thrips are a type of thrips, a large group of very small insects that feed by puncturing plants and sucking the sap out of them. They are hard to see without a magnifying glass, but their tell-tale symptoms are easily noticeable. Thrips tend to preferentially attack certain species of plants.
You can identify chilli thrips by the following signs: brown scarring along the leaf veins, flower buds drying and turning brown, light brown spots on stems and leaves, curled and dried leaves, and deformed new shoots or flower buds. The leaves may entirely dry up in cases of severe infestation. Chilli thrips also cause mosaic patches on plants, in which the top layer of tissue is undisturbed and a window or clear tissue is visible.
Chilli thrips are difficult to control and manage once plant damage is evident. They are active in spring, summer, and autumn, and their lifecycle, comprising egg, larva, pre-pupa, pupa, and adult, lasts several weeks. Eggs are laid within plant tissues, and larvae emerge from the eggs to feed on surrounding tissues. Larvae then fall to the ground or lower leaves when they reach the appropriate stage of development, living there during the pre-pupal and pupal stages until they become reproductive adults with fully developed wings.
To prevent and manage chilli thrips, monitoring is vital. Look for chilli thrips when they are most active, and inspect plants regularly for early detection. Use an adhesive trap, ideally blue since it attracts chilli thrips, and examine every few days using a magnifying glass to check whether chilli thrips (usually winged adults) have stuck to them. Tap flowers over a sheet of white paper and examine the black, torpedo-shaped 'specks' beneath a magnifying glass.
There are organic methods for dealing with chilli thrips that do not involve the use of pesticides or sprays. Products that contain active ingredients such as imidacloprid, acetamiprid, spinetoram, or pyrethroids are effective against thrips and may be available to home gardeners. Horticultural soap, oils, and other organic products can also be used. Always use products according to their label directions, and be aware that some sprays can be harmful to bees and other beneficial insects.
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Aphids
To prevent aphids from infesting your chilli plants, you can try to deter their ant friends by growing ant-repellent plants like tansy. Ants protect aphids from garden bullies, so without their protection, aphids are more vulnerable to being eaten. You can also use aluminium foil to bounce light onto the undersides of leaves, which irritates aphids.
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Slaters, slugs, and snails
Slugs and snails are notorious pests that can cause significant damage to chilli plants in a short period. They feed on young, tender plants, leaving holes in the leaves and damaging the lower stems. To protect your chilli plants from these pests, you can employ various methods, including physical barriers, natural predators, traps, and organic repellents.
One effective method is to create a physical barrier around your chilli plants. Mollusks, including slugs and snails, dislike crawling across certain substances like copper, eggshells, and gravel. By creating a ring of these materials around your plants, you can deter them from crossing over to reach your plants.
Encouraging natural predators is another eco-friendly way to control slug and snail populations. Frogs, hedgehogs, and birds are known to feed on these pests, so creating a small pond and providing nesting sites can attract these predators to your garden.
Additionally, you can set traps to capture slugs and snails. One simple trap involves sinking a plastic cup or bottle into the ground, filling it halfway with beer, sugar-water, or a yeast mixture, and placing it near your chilli plants. The fermented scent will attract the mollusks, trapping and drowning them.
If you prefer a more direct approach, you can handpick snails and slugs off your plants at night when they are active. It is important to wear gloves and dispose of them appropriately, as they can carry harmful bacteria.
Lastly, organic repellents can be used to deter slugs and snails. Spraying a strong coffee brew onto your plants and soil, or using natural repellents like strong-smelling herbs such as wormwood, mint, tansy, or lemon balm, can help mask the scent of your chilli plants, making them less attractive to these pests.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several pests that are known to eat chilli plants in Australia. These include:
- Caterpillars
- Worms
- Larvae
- Slaters
- Slugs and snails
- Rats
- Possums
- Earwigs
- Thrips
- Aphids
- Leafminers
- Whiteflies
- Psyllids
There are several signs that your chilli plant may be suffering from a pest infestation. These include:
- Speckled appearance on leaves
- Distorted, misshapen developing leaves
- Discoloured patches on leaves
- Discarded white egg-casings at the soil top and on leaves
- Sticky residue on leaves
- Presence of ants
- Twisted and distorted new growth
- Slime trails around the greenhouse
- Leaves munched around the outside
- Holes in pods
To prevent pest infestations, it is recommended to:
- Rotate crops
- Hang yellow paper sticky fly traps
- Bottom water to let the soil top dry out
- Sprinkle the surface with Diatomaceous Earth or Fossil Flour
- Use 'Gnat Off' as an organic larvicide
If you already have a pest problem, there are several methods you can use to get rid of them. These include:
- Using insecticides or pesticides
- Removing affected pods
- Sprinkling Derris dust or Diatomaceous Earth
- Wiping leaves with a damp cloth
- Taking plants outside
- Spraying plants with lightly pressured water
- Using copper tape
Some natural pest control methods include:
- Using parasitic wasps, lady beetles, lacewing larvae, soldier beetles, and syrphid fly larvae to control aphid populations
- Using Phytoseiulus to control Spider Mite populations
