How can I treat a bell pepper for ticks?

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How can I treat a bell pepper for ticks? - briefly
Inspect the pepper, remove any attached ticks, then wash it in a mild soap solution and rinse thoroughly; if damage remains, cut away the affected section and treat the plant with a food‑grade acaricide following the product’s instructions.

How can I treat a bell pepper for ticks? - in detail
Ticks found on a bell pepper require immediate removal and sanitation to prevent contamination. Follow these steps:

Inspect the fruit: Examine the surface under bright light. Use a magnifying glass to locate any attached arthropods or eggs.

Mechanical removal: With tweezers or fine pin‑cote, grasp each tick at the head end and pull straight upward. Avoid crushing the body, which can release pathogens.

Rinse thoroughly: Place the pepper in a bowl of cool running water. Agitate gently to dislodge unattached stages.

Sanitize: Submerge the vegetable for 2–3 minutes in one of the following solutions, then rinse again with clean water:

1 % food‑grade sodium hypochlorite (≈5 ml household bleach per litre of water)
5 % white vinegar solution (50 ml vinegar per litre of water)
Hot water at 60 °C (140 °F) for 30 seconds, ensuring the pepper does not soften.

Dry: Pat the pepper dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Store it in a refrigerated, sealed container to inhibit re‑infestation.

Preventive measures:

Purchase peppers from reputable sources that practice integrated pest management.
Wash all produce immediately after harvest or purchase.
Inspect storage areas for rodents or wildlife that could introduce ticks.
Rotate crops and keep the garden free of tall grasses and leaf litter where ticks thrive.

These procedures eliminate visible ticks, reduce microbial load, and maintain the pepper’s edibility. Use gloves during handling to avoid direct contact with potential pathogens.