I guess I could have moved everything into my screened in Lanai but then with only north facing sun, and a small section of east sun (not much sun after 9am though from the east side), but the lack of sun would make for small spindly plants, and I bet they'd stop producing fruit.

Sorry--I don't know how to protect that many plants. Floating row covers can be fairly wide. I haven't had a problem with insects bothering my peppers--an advantage of my cold climate I guess

Here is a link that might be useful: an example-not an endorsement of this company

John thanks for the link but that's the first place I checked. 10 feet wide is the widest, and for even a 4 foot tall pepper plant (many are taller than that) , you'd have to figure 5 feet on each side at least and then enough to reach the ground to tuck all edges under the pot iteself to keep it completely sealed from pests.

It's funny as the picture they show looks like it would be the 61 inch model and even their stock photo there looks to small to cover a small row of some kind of vegetation with one whole side exposed.

I recall calling and speaking to a woman asking her what I should do in my situation and she had NO clue. Which is why I came here I can;t beleive anyone that grow in pots would be SOL if these stalk boring insects come to town....

I suspect it may be some kind of small moth causing this problem as at night if I rustle past the plants I see small moths fluttering away. Whitish tan colored. Some times (I think it is unrelated) I see even smaller moths doing sdome kind of freak out dance on the leaves spinning and spiralling (not flying) out of control like it's drunk or angry. Smaller than the ones I suspect are causing the damage, just thought the spinning moths were strange as I never saw them regularly in years past. Maybe some kind of mating dance?

I bet a further search would find wider material--It is used commercially and would expect wider would be available

Check at a fabric store(or Walmart) for tulle(tool) that is used for bridal veils and ballet tu-tus. It comes in different mesh sizes. It is not as wide as row covering but is very inexpensive and can be sewn together or overlapped. It is usually under a dollar per yard, and 72" wide. I have used the larger mesh to prevent deer and rabbit damage on strawberries, bush beans and such. I would think the finer mesh might keep out insects.