How to get rid of ticks on peppers at home? - briefly
Trim off any pepper showing tick damage, then thoroughly spray the remaining plants with a neem‑oil solution (about 5 ml per litre of water) or a commercial insecticidal soap. Repeat the application every 5–7 days until the pests are eliminated.
How to get rid of ticks on peppers at home? - in detail
Ticks on pepper plants can be suppressed through a combination of cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical tactics.
Begin by inspecting foliage weekly. Remove any leaves bearing visible mites or eggs; place them in a sealed bag and discard. Wash the plant with a strong stream of water to dislodge mobile individuals, repeating the spray every 2–3 days during an outbreak.
Implement cultural controls: space plants 18–24 inches apart to improve air circulation, and prune lower leaves to reduce humidity. Apply a mulch layer of straw or wood chips to discourage soil‑borne stages, and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, which promotes dense growth favored by the pests.
For biological intervention, introduce predatory insects such as Aphidoletes aphidimyza or predatory mites (Neoseiulus californicus). Release rates of 100–200 predators per square meter, repeated weekly for three weeks, can establish a self‑sustaining population that consumes ticks and their eggs.
When chemical measures are required, select a low‑toxicity option approved for edible crops. Neem oil, applied at 2 % concentration, provides both contact and systemic action; spray the entire plant until runoff, repeating every 7–10 days until counts fall below economic thresholds. In severe cases, a short‑term dip with a phosphoric acid solution (0.5 % active ingredient) may be used, followed by thorough rinsing to prevent residue buildup.
Preventive practices reduce future infestations: rotate pepper crops with non‑host species every 3–4 years, use certified pest‑free seed, and maintain a clean garden bed free of plant debris. Regularly monitor trap crops, such as ornamental peppers placed at field edges, to capture migrating individuals before they reach the main harvest.
By integrating these steps—early detection, sanitation, optimal spacing, biological allies, and targeted treatments—growers can effectively eradicate ticks from pepper plants and protect yield quality.