Edd I do get a lot of bees in the conservatory. I know how important they are though and I always catch them and release them outside. Surely they wouldn't lay eggs on my chilli plant though? All help gratefully received with this conundrum. Many thanks
The leaves on my chilli plant are starting to resemble lace curtains now. Although I'm doing my best to remove the tiny caterpillars by hand. I'm just more fascinated with getting to the bottom of this mystery. Thanks Edd
hey gala.... It's quite a common misconception that pests don't go for chillies cause they are hot!!! The capsic oil which puts many pests off is normally just under the outer skin of the fruit and also in the filaments that hold the seeds ( thanks garden maiden for the glowing reference) moths and butterflies are rare but not unheard of I am afraid. But not something I have ever been blighted by ( now talk to me about mice eating my chillies!!!) all I can suggest is what ur doing unless you go down the chemical route! Even then the damage is done. What type of chilli is it? We are just about to have a 2 week heat wave so I would say wash the plant down using your fingers to clean off any eggs on the leaves and then leave outside for a while.... If it's a hotter variety of chilli place a little olive oil on your hands before you do so to prevent any of the oils permitting your hands ( don't want any chilli related accidents!!!!) hopefully they will crawl off and eat something else cause I can't think chilli is their first choice!!!! Sorry I can't pin point your bug I will continue to research and email a friend who is my guru..... In the meantime
Hi Stacey, Thanks for the info and advice - it isn't eating the chillies, just the leaves. The eggs are all gone now and I've picked of as many of the grubs as possible; (I grab 'em when I see 'em!). I hope they don't go and eat something else as in my conservatory I only have that and Dracaena and a few gorgeous orchids... I don't want them destroyed, lol!! As for putting the chilli outside? Well you said that mice take an interest in yours... I have a lot of mice in my garden - at the moment they're not really a pest (not to plants anyway) - they only seem to sneak food off of the bird table... They live in my garage and no matter what I do they just keep coming back!! I won't kill them though; although I was sorely tempted at the start of summer when I saw the state of one of my sun loungers... Oh well, wildlife eh???
Welshonion I think you've cracked it!! Well done!! I do get those moths in here and although I try to save everything that comes indoors - especially bees (with a pint glass and a beer mat) and free them outside - I'm afraid moths really freak me out! I think it's because they flap around your head. So I'm afraid that they get the Dyson treatment. Perhaps the grubs on my Chilli were a revenge attack.....?
Anyway lo and behold, I've just found a new grub on it. Unless it's a slightly more mature one that was already on there - who knows.... I'll post a picture. It's a regulare looking caterpillar/grub with a distinctive blue stripe around it. Anyone have a clue? Picture to follow...
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hey gala.... It's quite a common misconception that pests don't go for chillies cause they are hot!!! The capsic oil which puts many pests off is normally just under the outer skin of the fruit and also in the filaments that hold the seeds ( thanks garden maiden for the glowing reference) moths and butterflies are rare but not unheard of I am afraid. But not something I have ever been blighted by ( now talk to me about mice eating my chillies!!!) all I can suggest is what ur doing unless you go down the chemical route! Even then the damage is done. What type of chilli is it? We are just about to have a 2 week heat wave so I would say wash the plant down using your fingers to clean off any eggs on the leaves and then leave outside for a while.... If it's a hotter variety of chilli place a little olive oil on your hands before you do so to prevent any of the oils permitting your hands ( don't want any chilli related accidents!!!!) hopefully they will crawl off and eat something else cause I can't think chilli is their first choice!!!! Sorry I can't pin point your bug I will continue to research and email a friend who is my guru..... In the meantime
http://www.worldofchillies.com/growing_chillies/chilli_pests_problems_diseases/chilli_pests/chillipests.html
Hi Stacey, Thanks for the info and advice - it isn't eating the chillies, just the leaves. The eggs are all gone now and I've picked of as many of the grubs as possible; (I grab 'em when I see 'em!). I hope they don't go and eat something else as in my conservatory I only have that and Dracaena and a few gorgeous orchids... I don't want them destroyed, lol!! As for putting the chilli outside? Well you said that mice take an interest in yours... I have a lot of mice in my garden - at the moment they're not really a pest (not to plants anyway) - they only seem to sneak food off of the bird table... They live in my garage and no matter what I do they just keep coming back!! I won't kill them though; although I was sorely tempted at the start of summer when I saw the state of one of my sun loungers... Oh well, wildlife eh???
Welshonion, thanks for that, I'll Google it and see what I come up with
Welshonion I think you've cracked it!! Well done!! I do get those moths in here and although I try to save everything that comes indoors - especially bees (with a pint glass and a beer mat) and free them outside - I'm afraid moths really freak me out! I think it's because they flap around your head. So I'm afraid that they get the Dyson treatment. Perhaps the grubs on my Chilli were a revenge attack.....?
Anyway lo and behold, I've just found a new grub on it. Unless it's a slightly more mature one that was already on there - who knows.... I'll post a picture. It's a regulare looking caterpillar/grub with a distinctive blue stripe around it. Anyone have a clue? Picture to follow...
Stacey I forgot to say; It's a Habenero Chilli plant xx
Thanks Edd. Now do you think these look different from the first lot of photos I took though? Or are they just a few days older?