The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii) is a significant pest in pepper cultivation, causing substantial crop losses due to its feeding and oviposition behaviors, which damage flower buds and developing fruits. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of selected insecticides in managing this pest, contributing to the development of improved integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. To achieve this, both field trials and laboratory bioassays were conducted to examine how various insecticides influence pepper weevil behavior and survival. In the field component, pepper plants were individually marked and treated with different insecticides. These plants were monitored for feeding damage and oviposition. The results revealed significant reductions in both feeding and oviposition, with Actara demonstrating the most effective suppression, followed closely by Belay. This suggests that these insecticides effectively disrupt weevil host colonization and reproductive activity under natural conditions. Complementing the field trials, laboratory assays were performed to further investigate lethal effects. Adult weevils were exposed to insecticide-treated fruits, and subsequent observations showed that treatments with Belay and Botegha caused significantly higher mortality and reduced feeding and oviposition compared to untreated controls. These findings highlight the strong antifeedant and oviposition-inhibiting properties of these insecticides. Together, the field and laboratory results emphasize the potential of these insecticides to be integrated into sustainable IPM programs targeting the pepper weevil in commercial pepper production.
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