November 2015. Photos of distorted capsicum from St Helena were sent to PestNet and members were asked what might be the cause. They are grown under cover, in bags (but not hydroponics); the fruit is deformed and leaves very stiff, dark green and curled. Potassium levels in the soil are very high.

There was one suggestion that it might be due to lack of pollination, but most members thought it was caused by Eriophyiid mites, and that it might have started in the nursery if the infestation is high. It would be best to start the miticide programme in the nursery and continue until flowering.

It was possible the broad mites were the cause: slightly different but the control measures are similar. There are predatory mites to use as a biocontrol, rather than miticides. If it is caused by broad mites there will be early distortion of new growth, and especially distortion of the growing tips well before fruiting.