| For the last 2 years I have been finding maggot-like bugs inside the flesh of my ripe red bell peppers. What are they and what should I do about them this year? |
| If it is a small, white worm you probably have pepper maggots. The adult fly lays its eggs on the fruit in midsummer. After they hatch, the larvae (maggots) tunnel into the fruit. The best control is to cover the young plants with fabric row covers, creating a barrier against the flies. You can also use a reflective material on the soil as a mulch to confuse the flies, so hopefully they'll go elsewhere to lay eggs. |
