[Arid_gardener] pepper predator

[Tyler Storey]

Hi Jamie,
>From what you describe -- leaves stripped of foliage (with the center rib
still there, I'm guessing), nocturnal activity, and given the time of year
-- I would suspect caterpillars.  If you check carefully, you may see them
laying along the stems or hiding under the leaves.  If you go out in the
evening with a flashlight you may see them actively feeding.  If you have
enough of them, you may even hear the little beasts munching.  
If it is caterpillars, your best bet is an organic product called BT
(Bacillus thuringiensis), available at most nurseries, especially your local
ones.  It may be under the trade name "Dipel" though there are others as
well.  It works by giving the caterpillars a terminal stomachache after they
eat it.  Spray your plants thoroughly, carefully following the label
directions.  The caterpillars will then eat the leaves coated with BT and in
a short while they will go to their just rewards.
You can also go out with a flashlight at night and pick them off the leaves
while they're eating, if you can't wait for the BT.
I hope this helps,
Tyler

tyler at tylerstorey.com
http://tylerstorey.com
602-738-2978
-----Original Message-----
From: arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu
[mailto:arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu] On Behalf Of
changingone77 at yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:48 AM
To: arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

Jamie Rush
85202
changingone77 at yahoo.com

I really hope you can help me.  Something is just destroying my pepper
plants.  I'm pretty sure it's nocturnal, as I checked on the garden this
morning and found entire leaves stripped of foliage.  Can you help me
diagnose the critter responsible?  Please help.  I'm afraid I'll lose my
pepper plants quick if I don't figure out what to do. 

Thanks.

Jamie Rush
changingone77 at yahoo.com

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i94/changingone/IMG_0604.jpg

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