Aphids on pepper plants
Green peach aphid is among the commonest aphids on pepper; in California it peaks in March–May and September–November. Colonies build under the newer leaves in the centre of the plant, and heavy feeding yellows plants and curls leaves down and inward from the edges. Honeydew fouls fresh-market fruit, and the aphid carries pepper potyviruses and cucumber mosaic virus. UC IPM sets no numeric threshold; heavy populations matter most on seedlings and young plants.
At a glance
- Damage
- Yellowed, curled young leaves, honeydew, spreads viruses
- Type
- Sap feeding · virus vector
- Settings
- Under glass, Field, Garden, Indoors
- Threshold
- None established — act on stressed young plants
- Release
- Aphidius colemani
- Rate
- 0.25–4 /m² per release, at least three releases
How to confirm it
Confirm with a 10× hand lens: the antennae rise from two bumps on the front of the head that lean towards each other, leaving a notch between them. Colonies gather at growing points and under young leaves.
Identification, lifecycle, degree days and every control option are on the full Green peach aphid profile. Not sure it is this pest? Answer four questions about the damage.
Work it out
How many do I need?
Carries Aphidius colemani and pepper through so nothing is re-entered. Open the calculator →