Atherigona orientalis(Schin.) is a dipterous pest of pepper fruit in Nigeria. Field and laboratory observations showed that available local varieties of pepper were infested by the developmental stages during the rainy season in Port Harcourt. The fruits were contaminated with pupae and larval frass. The population of the various stages are primarily related to the availability of susceptible pepper fruits, itself determined by rainfall. Of four local varieties, Nsukka Yellow(Capsicum annum)was most preferred and Bird's eye chilli(C. frutescens)the least preferred byA. orientalis.