ABSTRACT
Biotic stresses, particularly insect pests adversely affect the economical yield potential and the quality of the widely cultivated spice crops. Incorporating ecological and economic factors into decision making and addressing the public concerns about environmental quality and food safety is the need of the hour. Biotic stresses, particularly insect pests adversely affect the economical yield potential and the quality of the widely cultivated spice crops. Biointensive Integrated Pest Management is a systems approach to pest management based on an understanding of pest ecology. The damaged berries are seen with exit holes and later the berries dry up, turn dark and hollow and crumble when pressed. Cultural operations like raking of soil and regulation of shade by standards. The caterpillars damage terminal shoots by boring into them and drying of tender stalks and shoots. It is a persistent pest in almost all the pepper growing areas of India.
