Pepper Pest

[Farmette]

Am not able to post a picture right now, but I have bell pepper plant that did not produce last season and I have wintered over inside. It now has flowers AND holes in the leaves. At first I thought it was my cat, but he would eat the entire leaf..these leaves have cut marks and holes on them.
I have sprayed with a diluted soap solution, but they are still appearing. Does anyone have any thoughts on what might be doing this and how to stop it?
Thanks
Chris

[Blueaussi]

Any chance you brought a slug inside in the pot?

[Farmette]

I neglected to say that I started the pepper from seed. I think I should probably try some BT...does that sound reasonable? I am trying to cover all bases.

[b54red]

If the bt doesn't work try a little Sevin.
I had a terrible time with aphids on the few peppers I overwintered and finally found a spray that had a little pyrethrin and mostly neem oil and it finally got them under control. I was afraid I was going to have to resort to malathion. This was my first year of overwintering pepper plants and had no idea that aphids could be that persistent; usually a little soapy water keeps them under control in the garden but it sure didn't work for me inside.

[Wi-sunflower]

I used to do a lot of peppers in the house and YES, aphids can be a horrible problem.

If you can move the plant to the bath tub for a while then really hose it down good. After it drains off, then give it some insecticidal soap mixture and/or find some lady bugs. My old farm house is full of them about now.

Carol

[Farmette]

Well, I have tried soapy water and hosing them off. I have some of those darned Japanese beetles in the house now that it is getting warm...I am wondering if they are doing the damage. What do you think?

[Blueaussi]

You have Japanese Beetles flying around your house? My cats would go insane!

But, yeah, they eat leaves.

[Wi-sunflower]

I don't think she means "Japanese Beetles" the pests, but the Asian Lady Bugs.

She lives not too far from me and those Asian Lady Bug have been pesty around here for several years. They are bigger and a bit more agressive than the regular Lady Bugs. They will occasionally bite humans too.

What I forgot about aphids tho is that usually you don't see holes but you will see honeydew and a sooty mold that can grow on the sticky stuff.

So if you don't have sticky but do have holes, chances are it's something else.

Carol

[Farmette]

Yes, I guess I did mean Asian Lady Bugs...and they are making me crazy!
I think I saw something like dried eggwhite on the underside of one of the leaves. I took it off, but have no idea if that is related to the holes. Maybe it is not a pest, but something else.

[Wi-sunflower]

I think I've seen that too but right now I'm drawing a blank on what it is other than I'm pretty sure it's not good. Maybe if I sleep on it, I'll remember what it might be.

Carol

[dustdevil]

This might help with the pepper pests:http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG295/html/pepper_key.htm

[stormymater]

A biting ladybug?
That is so WRONG.

[Wi-sunflower]

I was thinking of Mealy Bugs.

Here is a pic in the upper left corner http://www.lawnmowingblackheath.com.au/mealybugs.htm

They can be a PITB.

If the white stuff isn't as substantive as this, then it might be spittle bugs. Those should wash off fairly easily compared to most other bugs.

I usually try to collect some of those Lady Bugs at this time of the year and put them on any plants that are having problems. Can't hurt.

Carol

[Farmette]

Carol:
That might be it. Thanks for all the research. I hope the plant recovers, because it has numerous blossoms. thanks again!

[riceke]

Gotta be a slug or a snail...but why don't ya sneak out in the night with a flashlight and check it out. Most critters dine after dark.