Cayenne (sometimes inappropriately labelled as 'cayenne pepper' or `red pepper') is an extremely pungent ground spice prepared by blending the small pungent chillies grown in East Africa, Japan, India, Mexico, Louisiana and some other areas, but not from Cayenne (French Guiana). Red pepper is sometimes regarded as identical with cayenne, but is, nevertheless, milder, being prepared mainly from the larger-fruited, moderately pungent capsicums from Turkey and some of the southern states of the USA.

Crushed red pepper (`pepperone rosso and pizza pepper') is prepared from many hot capsicum varieties and is used in sausage meat, spaghetti and pizza. Chili pepper is a blend of Mexican and Californian capsicums, and chili powder is a mixture containing ground chili pepper, oregano, cumin, garlic powder and other spices. They are not always as hot as commonly believed since some preparations include the milder types of C. annuum.

Lines of interspecific hybrids were obtained showing a high heterosis effect both in their viability and resistance, and in their earliness and productivity. The species C. annuum and C. pendulum did not cross with C. pubescens, although a separate cross- hybridization between C. annuum and C. pubescens could be achieved provided a solution of vitamins B and B6 was used.

The oleoresins of chillies and capsicums are prepared mainly by the food industries in North America and Western Europe. By contrast, a substantial amount of paprika oleoresin is prepared.,in the major growing areas (Spain and Eastern Europe), in additicin to extraction being carried out in the principal paprika-importing countriesin the Western hemisphere. The three types of oleoresins find similar applications to the ground products in the preparation of' processed foods. Chillie oleoresin (more commonly known as 'African capsicum oleoresin') is also incorporated into a number of pharmaceutical formulations.

The adult weevil is about 3 mm long, black and sparsely covered with grey or yellowish hairs; it feeds on the leaves, blossom buds and tender pods. The presence of the weevil may be indicated by small pin-holes in blossom buds and pods in which the females have laid their eggs. The period from egg to adult in Cali fornia is 2 to 3 weeks and there are 5 to 8 generations per year. It is controlled by contact insecticides.

Chillies and capsicums are traded internationally both in the whole and ground forms, but grinding is mainly undertaken in the consuming centres. Both types are used as a pungent spice for domestic culinary purposes, usually in the form of cayenne or red pepper, and by the food industries for the seasoning of processed foods and in the preparation of curry powder, Tabasco sauce, etc. In addition, the most pungent types of chillies are used by the pharmaceutical industry in the preparation of stimulant and counter-irritant balms for external application and in pungent stomachic carminative and stimulant formulations taken internally to dispel flatulence and arouse the appetite.