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Grubs growing inside of pods - how to prevent them

simon

simon

I have been pretty lucky this season when it comes to insects and pests - until recently.

I have just had another round of fresh pods start to ripen - but about 80% of them have grubs growing inside of them and eating their way out.

It looks as tho the eggs must have been laid early in the pods development - as I can't see any entry point.

What is the standard method of dealing with this problem and at what stage of the growing cycle should you undertake precautions against this?

Thanks in advance...
 
whoa, pics please.
i had something similar but it was some sort of caterpillar eating its way into the pods, they would then rot and fall off the plant.
http://www.thehotpepper.com/topic/21760-something-is-eating-my-peppers-from-the-inside-out/page__fromsearch__1
 
queequeg152 said:
whoa, pics please.
i had something similar but it was some sort of caterpillar eating its way into the pods, they would then rot and fall off the plant.
http://www.thehotpep...__fromsearch__1
Click to expand...

I've had similar. It's my only real pest problem here. I'm not sure
what they are, but Neem on the pods when they are young seems
to keep them from wrecking the pods. Sometimes I don't find anything
in the pod, and a few times, earwigs.
 
Looks very similar to this - except maybe slightly smaller and white...

Pic comes from this thread on this forum http://www.thehotpepper.com/topic/21760-something-is-eating-my-peppers-from-the-inside-out/#entry453193
3cd136e0.jpg
 
There has to be an entry hole somewhere. Mine tend to be under the skirt of the cap. Upon popping off the cap I see it.
 
 
Here are the varmints...
IMG_20120327_212526-1.jpg


This is what it looks like in situ
IMG_20120327_211810.jpg


This is the mess they make
IMG_20120327_205923.jpg


This is an exit wound
IMG_20120327_205848.jpg


I cut a few pods up tonight in search of some examples for photos and not all pods that had grubs in them had visible holes in the pod - even after popping off the stem as suggested by Justaguy. So I suspect that the eggs are laid in the early stages of the pod development.

I do not have any idea what they end up transforming into. I probably should try to cultivate a couple to find out...

There are quite a few similarities between the descriptions provided in the links by queequeg152 and AlabamaJack. However, I am not totally sold just on the fact that the links refer to pests identified in the US - and I am in Australia. So possibly similar - but different. Possibly.

Anyway, what I really want to know is how to stop the buggers. Might have to be more diligent with the Neem or similar as suggested by PaulG
 
Here's some info on different ways to deal with pepper maggots. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=australian%20pepper%20maggots&source=web&cd=9&ved=0CF8QFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mendeley.com%2Fresearch%2Fquantifying-pepper-maggot-diptera-tephritidae-oviposition-infestation-time%2F&ei=h9lxT4XgM-OO2wW02vHiDg&usg=AFQjCNE1FwLA1jd1qYhqJUZRsj56I6C7rA&cad=rja

Best of luck to you getting rid of them simon.
 
thanks patrick

And here's another thread on the same subject from 2007
http://www.thehotpepper.com/topic/3220-at-war-with-pepper-maggots/

OK - given pepper maggots appear to be native to north america (according to the google) and fruit fly are common around these parts, I am going to presume it is fruit fly (they appear to be relatively similar to each other anyway). Certainly the larvae look like fruit fly larvae in the google images.

Will head down to Bunnings and ask for a solution in a bottle.
 
This is what I ended up using on them on March 29. Seems to have done the trick although there are still some that appear to be around. However, the massive pod drop and spoilage that was occurring has ceased for the time being.

IMG_20120328_230442.jpg


IMG_20120328_230548.jpg
 
Those are japanese beetle larvae. They live in the soil and eat roots. I try to get rid of as many as I can when I turn the soil over in the spring.
 
Interesting, I've seen some of those bugs in my greenhouse soil too. Was wondering what to do with them, now I sure will get rid of them!
 
I used "milky spore". Can get it on amazon. I used a sifter and spread it all over. most so far had died. Scary to plant as I don't want to lose again.
This year I've added mulch to prevent eggs from being laid
 
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