White tiny things on bell pepper leaves (school, living)

[Alaska Deb]

Hi,

With the recent vitriolic atmosphere regarding day-to-day living questions, I hesitate to ask...but here goes.

My bell pepper plants have something on the leaves. At first, I thought it was some other plant matter...like tiny white/off white filaments...very skinny and short. I cannot for the life of me determine if they are moving.

They are under the bottom of the leaves in much higher concentration. They are clustered on the few baby peppers.

I thought maybe aphids, but my internet search showed aphids as being greenish. Maybe these are baby aphids?

Does anyone know what this could be?

I have googled. I have googled images. I have Wikied.

Freaking out here...envisioning my plants all keeling over.

PLUS, the tomato plants are in there with the peppers

Ok, hope you all are enjoying this 4th of July!

Thanks,
Deb

[DannyL]

perhaps you could start by emailing these folks...


The School of Natural Resources&Agricultural Sciences

[mal_flisk]

Sounds like aphids to me. I have seen white juvenile aphids before.

[hey teach]

Sounds like aphids or mealy bugs. Here in Alabama we spray with plain rubbing alcohol. I have never use this on vegetable plants, but considering how fast alcohol dissapates I would think you could use it on veggies too. Alcohol willonly keep the bugs under control and kill the ones present when spraying. You will have to do it frequently. If I get these bugs on my plants I put alcohol on an old tshirt and wipe them off with it. If your plants are in pots before you plant next year you should wash your pots out with a bleach solution. This will kill the eggs. Good Luck

[blueflames50]

Aphids!!! put 1/2 tablespoon of white pepper in 1/2 gal water and boil. strain out white pepper, let cool, spray plants with the pepper water!! do both top and under side of plant along with the stem. works well for many types of pests. Re-apply after heavy rain.

[snkalaska]

You can also use neem oil. It's extracted from tree bark and smothers the aphids. You may have to reapply as there may be eggs that will hatch after applying the oil.

[Moose Whisperer]

Maybe give em a blast of bear spray?

[Dusty Rhodes]

I'll agree with Mal, sounds like immature aphids to me, I get them on my peppers, & give reps to blueflames50 as well, I use the same mixture, it works effectively.

[lyoness]

Originally Posted by Alaska Deb

Hi,

With the recent vitriolic atmosphere regarding day-to-day living questions, I hesitate to ask...but here goes.

My bell pepper plants have something on the leaves. At first, I thought it was some other plant matter...like tiny white/off white filaments...very skinny and short. I cannot for the life of me determine if they are moving.

They are under the bottom of the leaves in much higher concentration. They are clustered on the few baby peppers.

I thought maybe aphids, but my internet search showed aphids as being greenish. Maybe these are baby aphids?

Does anyone know what this could be?

I have googled. I have googled images. I have Wikied.

Freaking out here...envisioning my plants all keeling over.

PLUS, the tomato plants are in there with the peppers

Ok, hope you all are enjoying this 4th of July!

Thanks,
Deb

Sounds like scale aka mealy bugs. Check out the pic in this link and see if they look the same. I had a problem with it last year and this. Does a huge amount of damage if you let it go. I had to use an oil type insecticide to get rid of it.
Scale Insects
It started out in my lilies and worked it's way into the peppers. But once I sprayed everything bounced back pretty good. I fon't like to use insecticide unless I absolutely have to. For aphids, which seem to love my roses and new pear tree, I use warm soapy water, works like a charm

[Alaska Deb]

Thank you so much for all your help. I really think they are mealy bugs...I was all excited about being able to take care of the problem with the white pepper/water solution. I'm still going to try this, but am poised to get some insecticide :-(

Thank you so much...hate to see them be munched up before their time.

Deb