Something in my jalapeno!

[vette-kid]

No sign of external damage, but found this guy inside when I cut it open. What is it and how do I stop it in the future?

 

[Chuck]

No sign of external damage, but found this guy inside when I cut it open. What is it and how do I stop it in the future?

View attachment 39670

What you probably have is called a pepper maggot/pepper weevil. What happens is wasp/bee looking insect lays an egg, usually on the upper shoulder close to the stem but other places as well. The egg hatches and the teeny tiny worm eats his way into the pepper. Sometimes you can see an actual hole in the pepper and sometimes all you can see is what looks like a dimple. Luckily these things rarely show up. There is no cure once the egg has hatched and the worm is inside. But, to prevent this you can spray regularly with Neem to kill the egg or with Bt before the egg hatches.

 

[vette-kid]

Thank you sir, the little guy ruined my lunch! Fortunately the one I picked for dinner was fine.

 

[Chuck]

Thank you sir, the little guy ruined my lunch! Fortunately the one I picked for dinner was fine.

A little protein along with your pepper makes for a well balanced meal.

 

[vette-kid]

I was pretty hungry, but not desperately so!