**2.1 Arthropod pests**

### *2.1.1 Thrips*

Thrips are the number one pest of greenhouse crops in different climatic regions mainly due to their polyphagous diet and their ability to rapidly develop resistance to commercially available insecticides. Thrips cause significant damage, such as feeding and ovipositing on pepper leaves, fruit, and flowers, leading to decreased quality and marketability of fruits. The most known damaging thrip species include the western flower thrips, *Frankliniella occidentalis*, *Thrips tabaci* Lindeman, and *Thrips palmi* Karny [9]. Another thrip attacking *Capsicum* species is *Scirtothrips dorsalis* Hood. Thrips usually like closed areas such as the flowers, under the calyx of fruit and young leaves, which make them difficult to control with insecticides [3].

### *2.1.2 Whiteflies*

Two principal whiteflies are reported to attack sweet pepper: the greenhouse whitefly, *Trialeurodes vaporariorum* (Westwood), and *Bemisia tabaci.* In some European regions, such as Spain, *B. tabaci* is the major pest of peppers [10].

Adult whiteflies and nymphal whiteflies feed on the vascular tissue in plants (phloem), causing direct damage. On the other hand, indirect damage results from virus transmission by adults and sooty mold, which develops on their excreted honeydew [11, 12].

### *2.1.3 Mites*

### *2.1.3.1 Spider mites*

The two-spotted spider mite (*Tetranychus urticae*, Koch) and the carmine spider mite (*T. cinnabarinus*, Boisduval) were reported as the important pests of pepper worldwide. These mites cause whitish or yellowish stippling in the upper leaf surfaces and produce silk webbing [13].

### *2.1.3.2 Broad mites*

The broad mite is one of the notorious pepper pests in different regions of the world [14]. It mainly causes damage to different parts of sweet pepper at the younger stage and is difficult to manage due to its small size. It usually feeds on the lower leaf

surface and distorts flowers and blistering of fruits. When the broad mite gains access to enter a greenhouse, it can spread rapidly, resulting in high economic losses [3].

### *2.1.4 Aphids*

Aphids are generally important pests of sweet pepper, especially in open fields compared with those covered. The most critical aphid is the green peach aphid, *Myzus persicae* (Sulzer), which causes direct damage to leaves by the secretion of phytotoxins into the plants [15]. In general, the damage caused by aphids is indirect, such as sooty molds growing on secreted honeydew and transmission of potyviruses. Another aphid pest reported in subtropical-covered peppers is *Aphis gossypii* (Glover) [16].
