Plant guide:ðŦ Bell Pepper
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Pests
Whiteflies on Bell Pepper
Commonly affects: Capsicum annuum, Grossum Group (Bell Pepper)
Small white, moth-like insects fly up in a cloud when the plant is disturbed, with sticky honeydew residue and sometimes sooty mould developing on leaves.
Potential Causes
- 1Whiteflies establishing on leaf undersides, particularly in warm, humid conditions or greenhouse growing
- 2Introduction from a nearby infested plant
- 3Dense foliage providing ideal shelter for growing populations
Solution Steps
- 1Use yellow sticky traps to catch and monitor adult whiteflies
- 2Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf undersides where whiteflies congregate and lay eggs
- 3Isolate the affected plant from other susceptible plants until cleared
- 4Repeat treatment every 5-7 days for several cycles, since whitefly eggs hatch continuously
Prevention Tip
Whiteflies are especially persistent in greenhouse-grown peppers â yellow sticky traps placed early help catch a developing problem before it becomes established.
