Death Head Hawk Moth Caterpillers?

Question

I was trying to grow peppers earlier this year and they kept geting covered in some strange white powder. Then when the peppers got big and before I picked the peppers I found huge caterpillers. Atleast 10. I found out they were Death Head Hawk Moths except they were still caterpillers. Anyway I need to know how to stop them next time. I really dont want to deal with them everytime I try to grow peppers. (I live in Florida if that helps at all)

Answer 1

Unfortunately as a gardener, you have no choice but to deal with the insects because there is no way to get rid of them all or for good. The best way to rid your plants of caterpillars is to hand pick them as you see them. The problem with commercial pesticides is that they don't differentiate between insects and will kill the pollinating beneficials as well as the non beneficial insects. This includes sevin. You could try a solution of 1tbs dish soap, 1tsp lite cooking oil, in a 32oz spray bottle of water if you don't want to hand pick.
I actually enjoy going on the hunt for insect pests. It is somewhat cathartic picking the little buggers off my beautiful veggies and plopping them into a bucket of soapy water.
Good Luck

Answer 2

Almost any pesticide will work. I generally would use sevin dust, or if you dislike the look of the powder on the plants, get the liquid sevin spray... this is one of the safer pesticides, and won't harm pets.