We have been fortunate in having almost no infested pepper fields since 2014 in southern New Jersey. However, pepper weevil remains a potential threat to our pepper crop. Despite new chemistries, insecticidal control of the weevil is not possible once an infestation is established.
Vegetable processing plants and repackers that bring in southern produce seem to be the primary source of pepper weevils arriving in the state. To help reduce the incidence of pepper weevil infestations, farmers should plant peppers in fields at least 1 ½ miles from a processing facility. If at all possible, no solanaceous crop should be planted within that 1 ½ mile radius since weevils can feed on and spread from tomatoes and eggplant. [Read more…]