D3409: Seasonal abundance of arthropods in sweet pepper

Crop damage due to arthropod pests is a critical problem growers face in vegetable production. To combat pests, growers use various management practices, like physical, cultural, biological, and chemical, or combinations of these methods. Integrated pest management (IPM) is an environmentally sustainable practice that combines all possible pest management techniques. This study used arthropod monitoring techniques, such as lures with sticky cards, visual observation, flower collection, etc., to evaluate the seasonal abundance of arthropod pests and natural enemies in sweet pepper. We conducted a replicated field study to assess arthropod abundance in sweet pepper in 2020 and 2021. Our results show that predatory arthropods, such as syrphids, ladybeetles, and Orius spp., are some of the dominant natural enemies found in sweet pepper. We discuss the seasonal abundance of pests and natural enemies in sweet pepper.