[CH] Ed's Problem
Byron (byronbromley@tellink.net)
Tue, 4 Sep 2001 11:52:28 -0400
Ed,
I have a feeling that it's Pepper maggot, Odds are it's not pepper
weevil as the don't migrate this far
north.
An excerpt from NCSU follows.
The larva state is only in the pod
for 2 to 3 weeks. It is after the damage is done that you find the pods.
Byron
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Desription from NCSU
After mating, the female lays its eggs in the pepper pods. Eggs are about
1/16 inch (2 mm) long, white and shaped like crookneck squash, and they are
deposited in punctures made by the female. Eggs hatch in 8 to 10 days. The
maggots generally move to the core to feed, but maggots may also feed on the
walls of the pod.
Larvae remain in peppers until fully grown, a period of 2 to 3 weeks. When
fully grown, a larva is about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long (10 to 12 mm), creamy
white to yellow in color and shaped like a short peg. At this time the
maggot leaves the pepper, drops to the soil and forms a puparium 2 to 4
inches deep in the soil. Puparia are medium brown in color and about 5/16
inch (8 mm) long. There is one generation per year.