Weird pest epiphany

[Bicycle808]

So, I've had a recurring issue with earwigs; they like to bore a hole in my pods and camp out in there for awhile. It's gross, and bc they seem to like the same kinds of peppers as I do, it's really frustrating. I usually just pluck and toss the pods as soon as I find the hole in'm.

My thinking was, that will allow the plant to start producing new pods, and I won't have to live with the heartache of constantly being reminded of the loss, each time I see the pod.

But that's all changed, now...for now.

See, today, I was poking around in my beds, and admiring the fine blistery skin and perfectly formed shapes of the pods on my Yella Brainstrain plants. And I found another hole, in a fairly large, picture-perfect but as-of-yet unripe YBS. I was grief-stricken, and tempted to cast the pod away in a fit of despair and rage.

Then it hit me. With a pod like this one, I want to leave it on the plant to ripen, so I can save seeds.

Right?

I'll probably still toss any ugly or off-pheno pods that get violated, but I think this is gonna be my move for the pretty ones.

 

[Tybo]

Did you isolate the bud before it bloomed?  Maybe it crossed with something?  Otherwise it seems like a good idea.
 
I just tossed a TFM and a Shishimi due to a hole in each.  I have yet to see a earwig near the plants or find anything inside of the pods.  As a matter of fact, I seem to have a lot of leaves on most of my plants that either have holes or parts of the leaf missing.  I try to keep them sprayed with neem/soap and have even used some diatomaceous earth but seems like the thunderstorms like to come and wash everything off!!!!!
 
Just griping.  Sorry

 

[Walchit]

Alot of my pods with holes end up molding inside. Of say if they aren't laying eggs in there, or causing mold, then it should be ok

 

[Bicycle808]

Good point regarding the mold. Not worried about eggs, though. I'm also not really to worried about the open pollination thing; the closest neighboring other plants are all YBS, worst that will happen is maybe they'll be crossed with a different 7Pot. . .

I mostly just can't stand the idea that this pod will be wasted entirely. It's too pretty

 

[luvmesump3pp3rz]

So, I've had a recurring issue with earwigs; they like to bore a hole in my pods and camp out in there for awhile. It's gross, and bc they seem to like the same kinds of peppers as I do, it's really frustrating. I usually just pluck and toss the pods as soon as I find the hole in'm.

My thinking was, that will allow the plant to start producing new pods, and I won't have to live with the heartache of constantly being reminded of the loss, each time I see the pod.

But that's all changed, now...for now.

See, today, I was poking around in my beds, and admiring the fine blistery skin and perfectly formed shapes of the pods on my Yella Brainstrain plants. And I found another hole, in a fairly large, picture-perfect but as-of-yet unripe YBS. I was grief-stricken, and tempted to cast the pod away in a fit of despair and rage.

Then it hit me. With a pod like this one, I want to leave it on the plant to ripen, so I can save seeds.

Right?

I'll probably still toss any ugly or off-pheno pods that get violated, but I think this is gonna be my move for the pretty ones.

as i was reading this a thought jumped into my head and it was to leave the pod on the plant as a "sacrificial pod" for other critters to use for shelter or food!?!?! i have run across pods with a hole bore in it on occasion and just tossed them. so anyone know it the earwigs eat the pod or just use it for shelter? 

 

[Bicycle808]

as i was reading this a thought jumped into my head and it was to leave the pod on the plant as a "sacrificial pod" for other critters to use for shelter or food!?!?! i have run across pods with a hole bore in it on occasion and just tossed them. so anyone know it the earwigs eat the pod or just use it for shelter? 

They never seem to do more than just chew one or two holes in each pod. They're such dickheads.

But yeah, i considered the notion of a "sacrificial pepper," but I'm not very optimistic it will work out that way.