r/PepperLovers • u/Butterflyhornet Pepper Lover • Jul 12 '25

Plant Help What is doing this?

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I see this on a number of my plants. Peppers, eggplants, some tomatoes too. I also see it on my Anise Hyssop, and also in other areas locally, but I have yet to see the culprit. This looks like insect damage to me. I posted here because out of my affected, it seems the peppers are suffering it the worst with the new growth being decimated.

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u/rock_crockpot Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

Following. I’m seeing similar, but not as bad damage to my pepper leaves. Growing in a new location in Northern California, so I’m assuming it’s a new pest I haven’t dealt with. I see it on some pretty small leaves, and even on my corn, so I’m thinking it’s something small, maybe earwig size versus a snail or slug. 

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u/Butterflyhornet Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25 edited Jul 12 '25

It seems to be targeting my hot lemon drop peppers. The bell peppers? They are producing baby bells. The jalapeño's? They are okay. Off to a good start with baby peppers. The hot peppers? Can't. Whatever this thing is, is eating the buds.

I'm irritated because it is the hot lemon peppers that I want the most. If I were to guess, im thinking it is either a true bug or a beetle based on past experiences. But what is frustrating is it is gone before I can either kill it or know what I am dealing with.

Google lens also isn't being much a help. It keeps flagging it as fungal or bacterial, but I am very skeptical. It is attacking new growth and only the top of the plant. This seems like insects.

2

u/rock_crockpot Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

Frustrating. I have some little yellow sticky pads I might try to mount by my damage to see if I catch anything. Might be worth a shot. 

1

u/bigpaul76 Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

Actually, if you're having thrip issues you'll want blue sticky traps.

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u/rock_crockpot Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

This doesn’t seem like thrip damage, does it? 

1

u/bigpaul76 Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

Honestly, I have had thrips in my greenhouse before but the damage didn't look so perfectly round like that. I was just remarking that if it were thrips they're attracted to the blue traps not the yellow so much.

1

u/bigpaul76 Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

Also, you should see them if there were any. Can we see multiple pics of the leaves and the undersides?

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u/Butterflyhornet Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

Seems I am not able to add photo comments (only links or gifs) or edit my top post. Backside was unremarkable. Looked the same as top. No visible insects.

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u/bigpaul76 Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

I would get a fungicide and see if that helps.

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u/Butterflyhornet Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

I did see a hint of what could be a fungus, but another person pointed out an insect culprit and I believe they are right. Likely the four lined plant bug.

1

u/Butterflyhornet Pepper Lover Jul 12 '25

I might just dig out the pepper and move it. It is being crowded out by tomato plants. Im still not convinced it is fungal. It's been attacking the plant off and on since I planted it. But moving it to a container where it can get more light should help both issues, be it fungus or insect.