Twospotted spider mites , Tetranychus urticae Koch. Mites suck plant juices causing yellow leaves and poor growth. Mites tend to build up around field margins during hot, dry weather. Excessive and unnecessary sprays of certain carbamate and pyrethroid pesticides may cause mite populations to increase. Avoid problem fields, bait with corn in 6-in. soil plugs, and use soil insecticides.
Overwintering adults move to plants, causing small holes in leaves.
Early detection and prompt insecticide sprays provide the best control. Margined blister beetles , Epicauta pestifera Werner, sometimes feed voraciously on foliage in late summer. Damage to leaf margins is typical. Sprays for major worm species usually offer control. Pepper weevils , Anthonomus eugenii Cano, are introduced on transplants grown further south.