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Pepper Bud Midge: signs and treatment in Jamaica
A tiny fly whose larvae feed inside the flower buds of peppers, causing severe flower drop. PlantArmor's crop guides list pepper bud midge as a common problem on scotch bonnet pepper.
Signs to look for
- Massive, unexplained flower drop
- Brown, distorted flower buds before opening
- Tiny white/orange maggots inside the dropped buds
What to do
Crops it affects
Questions growers ask
How do I recognise pepper bud midge?
A tiny fly whose larvae feed inside the flower buds of peppers, causing severe flower drop. The signs to look for: Massive, unexplained flower drop. Brown, distorted flower buds before opening. Tiny white/orange maggots inside the dropped buds.
What should I do about pepper bud midge?
Apply Cure (abamectin), whose label lists gall midge, during flowering. Collect and burn dropped buds. Always read the product label and observe the registered rate, re-entry period and pre-harvest interval before you apply any pesticide.
Which crops are affected by pepper bud midge in Jamaica?
PlantArmor's crop guides list pepper bud midge as a common problem on scotch bonnet pepper.
Check it in the field
The PlantArmor app works with no signal, so you can compare what you are seeing against its reference library standing in the plot, then log the spray you use along with its re-entry and pre-harvest intervals. Free to use.
This description and treatment come from the same reference library the PlantArmor app uses in the field. Pesticide registrations and permitted uses change — always read the current product label and observe the stated rate, re-entry period and pre-harvest interval.