New Pepper Pest Makes Its Way To Florida

According to Scott Krueger with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Plant Industry/Plant Inspection Section, the European pepper moth (Duponchelia fovealis) is now confirmed in Florida (Orange County). FDACS found it as soon as they placed the traps.

The pest was first detected in California in July, then in Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma, and more recently was confirmed in Georgia last month.

Hosts include tomato, pepper, corn, cucumber, herbs and more.

Duponchelia fovealis originates in the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands, and has since been found in other parts of Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Canada. Larvae have been intercepted numerous times in import shipments coming into the U.S. in or on fruits (especially peppers), fresh vegetables, herbs and cut flowers. Eggs are whitish-green when laid and turn red as the embryo develops. They are laid singly or in masses of 3 to 10, overlapping in tile-like fashion, either on the undersides of leaves close to the veins, low down on the stalks or at the base of the host plant, or in the upper soil layer.
The larvae feed externally on leaves, flowers, and buds and bore into stems and fruit.

For more information, visit the following links:

• http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/pestalert/Duponchelia_fovealis.htm
• http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/species/1403a.php
• http://bit.ly/cqj8uf

Source: Gene McAvoy, UF/IFAS, Florida Grower contributor