BDASPNY’s 2019 GLOG

DWB · Aug 7, 2019

Looks like the damage may have been done by something like a stink bug although they don't usually make the hole. They just suck the life out of the pod and leave a dry spot like what you see around the hole. I've never seen a caterpillar make a dry spot, just a hole.

Except for the off-color, your spider looks like a Golden Orb. They add features to their webs like the zigzag pattern yours made. These spiders down here typically build their huge and very sticky webs in clear air between supports about head high where they're far too easy to walk into. They build a lot of webs in the wooded areas of our land where I mow. I affectionately refer to these webs as "Alabama Hair Nets".

CaneDog · Aug 8, 2019

I was thinking a kind of orb spider as well. Used to run into those around the mangroves all the time when I lived in FL. Webbing was crazy strong.

Mr.joe · Aug 8, 2019

I don't know about the pest, I would guess it's not a bird, but I know very little about that stuff.
I'm glad we don't have orb spiders here I can do without.

BDASPNY · Aug 8, 2019

a big rain was coming in so I got lucky and my gf picked these while I was stuck at work.

DontPanic · Aug 8, 2019

BDASPNY said:
can anyone tell me what *%&#@!*&^$#@! pest is doing this? this was going to be my first reaper. at least that's what the plant was labeled. started it from seeds. even though its off pheno the leaves look correct.

ive had this happen several times now and its always on the first of the hottest peppers im growing! they put a tiny hole in it and then leave it alone. its only happening on the 350k scoville and higher peppers. id say its not a bird cuz this is 3 feet off the ground but I could be wrong.

I've been getting a lot of similar damage. I haven't found the culprit yet either.

I'm not even sure if something is eating its way in, or if something hatched inside and is eating its way out.

I've run across some references to something called a pepper weevil, which sounds like it might fit the profile. But I haven't caught one in the act yet.

DWB · Aug 8, 2019

DontPanic said:
I've been getting a lot of similar damage. I haven't found the culprit yet either.

I'm not even sure if something is eating its way in, or if something hatched inside and is eating its way out.

I've run across some references to something called a pepper weevil, which sounds like it might fit the profile. But I haven't caught one in the act yet.

Funny, I found this damaged pepper on the ground today. Looks pretty much the same but older damage.

Hey DontPanic, you think these may be pepper weevils? I found some of these on poke sallet late in May. I never saw any in my garden but that poke sallet seemed to be the epicenter of my armyworm infestation.

internationalfish · Aug 9, 2019

DWB said:
Hey DontPanic, you think these may be pepper weevils? I found some of these on poke sallet late in May. I never saw any in my garden but that poke sallet seemed to be the epicenter of my armyworm infestation.

This picture is... horrifying. Just horrifying. :shocked:

DontPanic · Aug 9, 2019

DWB said:
Funny, I found this damaged pepper on the ground today. Looks pretty much the same but older damage.

Hey DontPanic, you think these may be pepper weevils? I found some of these on poke sallet late in May. I never saw any in my garden but that poke sallet seemed to be the epicenter of my armyworm infestation.

I've been doing some 'Googling' for pepper weevils. The more I research it, the more it looks like pepper weevil damage.

There's a good picture of a Pepper Weevil in this link, as well as a good general description of the pest:

https://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/beetle/pepper_weevil.htm

Apparently, the damage we are seeing is the mature pepper weevils bursting out of the pepper (kind-of like in the movie "Alien").

Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to control them at this point, according to most of the links I've found.

The general shape of the insect in DWB's picture matches with the Pepper Weevil. The Pepper Weevil seems to have a very distinctive snout, but most of the insects in DWB's picture are doing a really good job of hiding their faces.

BDASPNY · Aug 12, 2019

picked a ton this weekend. :dance:

first set of sulu adana great tasting pepper!

picked close to 4 gallons of farmers jalapeno. if only my reg jalapeno had grown this well.

BDASPNY · Aug 12, 2019

not sure what this cross is exactly was supposed to be a fatalli. I can at least confirm its fatally hot. easily hotter than anything else I've tried this year. you can see it loaded with oil.

DWB · Aug 12, 2019

Those "fatalii" do look wicked. A lot of oil in there.

BDASPNY · Aug 12, 2019

DWB said:
Those "fatalii" do look wicked. A lot of oil in there.

wicked is a perfect way to describe them. :lol:

Devv · Aug 12, 2019

Nice pulls Scott!

Make a puree from those fatalii

BDASPNY · Aug 13, 2019

Devv said:
Nice pulls Scott!

Make a puree from those fatalii

thank you. :cool:

not sure what to do with them yet. I went ahead and dried this batch. :lol:

BDASPNY · Aug 19, 2019

pods are coming in full stream now!

sliced and sauted with onions and garlic in lime juice.

peach habanero ferment started.

fresh pods

and the field of pepper dreams.

CaneDog · Aug 19, 2019

Looking good! Keep socking away those ferments. Will be great to have those and other preserved good stuff come the off-season.

BDASPNY · Aug 19, 2019

CaneDog said:
Looking good! Keep socking away those ferments. Will be great to have those and other preserved good stuff come the off-season.

Thanks.

Hoping to have enough sauces to keep me warm all Winter. Lol

Im going to miss not having fresh pods everyday though.

BDASPNY · Aug 20, 2019

first brown bhuts to ripen, some really gnarly pods.

BDASPNY · Aug 20, 2019

today's round of peppers.

variety is the spice of life. tried to get a close up of different one together.

PaulG · Aug 20, 2019

Wow, you are firing on all cylinders, Scott! Great hauls of beautiful pods.

Just looking at those 'red fatalis' made my mouth burn :mouthonfire:

Give your GF a hug for harvesting peppers while you
were away!