Cutworms, Feltia subterranea (F.) and .Peridroma saucia (Htibn.) are often severe on newly set plants, cutting them off near the surface of the soil. The smooth, stout, soft-bodied larvae are usually dull- coloured and up to 4 cm long. They can be controlled by poisoned bait. Aphids, particularly the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), are the most common and widely distributed of the pests of capsicums. Infection can occur in the nursery or hotbed. They are the vectors of virus diseases. It is important to control aphids by dusting or spraying as soon as the first infestation is evident and as often as necessary thereafter.

Roussenova-Kondareva (1968) states that C. baccatum var. pendulum (syn. C. pendulum) crosses with C. annuum in cases where the former is the female parent, in which the F, hybrids are similar and usually occupy an intermediary position, but resembling more the female parent in certain characters. F, hybrids differed in a number of morphological and physiological features and could be divided into four groups; plants of female parent type; plants of male parent type; plants of an intermediary type; and plants representing a new form which were fully sterile. Male sterile forms were also obtained which are useful for breeding.

Flea beetles, Epitrix spp. and Systena blanch., Melsh., can do extensive damage. These jumping beetles are particularly damaging to young plants. Hornworms, Protoparce quinquemaculata (Haw.) and P. sexta (Joh.) devour the leaves of capsicums in northern America. The large green larvae have diagonal lines along the sides and a pronounced horn on the rear end. In small fields they can be controlled by hand-picking, but in large fields dusting or spraying with a suitable pesticide may be necessary. Fennah (1947) says that Phlegethontius sextus (Joh.) is a pest of capsicum in the West Indies. (This is a synonym for Protopace sexta Butl.)

Many cultivars exist and the ease with which those of the same species cross can be used for the breeding and selection of improved cultivars. With the discovery of cytoplasmically inherited male sterility (Peterson, 1958), hybrid F, seed can now be cheaply produced. High temperatures accentuate the sterile condition.

The adult weevil is about 3 mm long, black and sparsely covered with grey or yellowish hairs; it feeds on the leaves, blossom buds and tender pods. The presence of the weevil may be indicated by small pin-holes in blossom buds and pods in which the females have laid their eggs. The period from egg to adult in Cali fornia is 2 to 3 weeks and there are 5 to 8 generations per year. It is controlled by contact insecticides.

Chillies and capsicums are traded internationally both in the whole and ground forms, but grinding is mainly undertaken in the consuming centres. Both types are used as a pungent spice for domestic culinary purposes, usually in the form of cayenne or red pepper, and by the food industries for the seasoning of processed foods and in the preparation of curry powder, Tabasco sauce, etc. In addition, the most pungent types of chillies are used by the pharmaceutical industry in the preparation of stimulant and counter-irritant balms for external application and in pungent stomachic carminative and stimulant formulations taken internally to dispel flatulence and arouse the appetite.