I’ve recently moved here from the United States, so I’m not familiar with what insects/animals might be the culprit(s).
I have a 50cm (19.685”) high chicken wire fence. I’ve seen rabbits (European hares maybe?) in the yard, but I assume the chicken wire fence keeps them out of the peppers. There are black slugs everywhere in the yard, but I’ve only ever seen one or two on the peppers. There were ants in the soil when I first turned it over and prepared the area. I sprayed vinegar and sprinkled baking soda in the soil and around the fence. The number of ants have decreased significantly, but maybe they are always underground when I happen to be checking on my peppers, I don’t know.
I don’t know if it will help to identify the insect that could be doing this, but there are nettles growing quite near the garden and an overgrown horse pasture (the neighbor’s) 3-4 meters (10-15 feet) away.
by water_fountain_