What eats the leaves off hot pepper plants?

Several insect pests attack pepper plants, especially bell pepper. Problems with pepper plant bugs are usually not too serious, however, as most of them can be easily removed by hand or with soapy water. Frequent inspection and prompt removal are important steps to control or alleviate the development of heavy infestations, which may require the use of pesticides. Since many bugs overwinter in nearby brush, it is a good idea to keep the garden area free of debris. Cutworms are usually the most damaging and target seedlings. Aphids cluster beneath leaves, excreting honeydew and causing spots. Pepper leaves become distorted and wilt. Both armyworms and fruitworms feed on fruit pods and occasionally foliage. Flea beetles attack young plants, which may exhibit numerous holes in the foliage. Corn borers feed inside pepper pods. Hornworms destroy the foliage of pepper plants but are large enough for easy hand removal.Whiteflies can be extremely destructive to pepper plants. They not only help transmit harmful viruses, but also damage leaves, causing them to shrivel, yellow, and drop.

Getting rid of fruitworms naturally is preferred on plants with edible crops. You can reduce the population of adults with sticky traps. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has shown to be moderately effective for getting rid of fruitworms naturally. There are other biological controls, such as certain wasps and nematodes, which are only practical in minor infestations.