Spiders on outdoor pepper and tomatillo plants

Question

I have been fighting little tan and black spiders on my pepper plants. They spin their web around the flowers which kills the fruit, or keeps it from pollinating. I have tried products such as Sevin and Blondie Eight. I have also been killing them with a wet towel, and I cannot keep them away. It appears that they are not “mites” as the leaves are not changing colors. I have also been destroying their webs. What can I do to eliminate them and prevent them from coming back? Thanks in advance for your recommendation.

Answer 1

They still may be mites, but they are just attacking the flowers instead of the leaves. But, they could also be run of the mill spiders that have figured out that they can turn the flowers into a trap as pollinators are attracted to the flowers.

Actual spiders can be tricky to control as most pesticides don’t always work on them. And when they do, its not exactly something you want to put on food crops. You can try putting the plants in brighter light during the day if possible and if there is a light on at night, make sure it is off. This will help decrease the number of insects in the area and make the area less desirable to the spiders. Make sure the area around the plant is as clean as possible to eliminate convenient hiding places. Continue to remove them as soon as you see them. Water only in the morning or early evening to help reduce moisture available to the spiders.