By chance to you have any diatomaceous earth? Also, and more to the point, there is an insidious little creature you'd never suspect of damaging plants. They'll attack plants anywhere but especially near a light left on at night, like a porch light. You and i both live in their prime habitat. I got attacked a few years ago. It took me 2 more years to figure it out which little #$% was responsible. They put round holes in leaves...
I think the holes in your pepper plants were caused by Desmia funeralis aka the grape moth... (not to be confused with Lobesia botrana aka european grape moth)
One summer I was growing jalapeno and serrano peppers on my porch in pots. They almost wiped me out. I dusted with DE everyday just to keep the damage in check. I never saw what was doing it. The next year they attacked again. One night I noticed little black and white moths on my glass exterior door. Still didn't suspect but out of curiosity i did some research to figure out what they were. That's when i learned about the damage they do...
(if you have a glass outside door run the same experiment, turn off the porch light, leave an inside light on to attract bugs to the door)
This year i saw the first one about 2weeks ago. I'm ready with my tea candles. They are literally the most effective means of killing the little b*rds on potted plants. I didn't want to spray my peppers either. Diatomaceous earth is safe, ground up fossils, just rock. But it's better at killing smaller insects. One night i though 'moth to a flame', tea candles, work great. Actually ordered 100 tea candles in a box, use a few every summer.
If i notice damage to my porch plants I set a few candles on the window sill and turn off my porch light. Couple nights... no more problem. I've killed dozens of them. Also, the black and white pattern on their wings vary. They aren't all identical.
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please dont laugh!!
