No pepper
Pears are Purdy hardy. I've never had to spray the tree. I have sprayed bifin for fireants just on the ground.
Another option that really works well on ants is [h=1]Diatomaceous earth[/h]I paid $35 for a 50lb food grade from the farm supply store.
Better than buying from a pet store or small retailer.
There's only 6 out 600 mines that produce food grade-the rest is for commercial use like pool filtering systems.
Any powder ant treatment will have 90+% of diatomaceous earth as the main ingredient (kind of like buying printer ink price)
Just need to wear a mask when applying because the silica dust is so fine.
1lb of DE can do two acres, it has to be reapplied after every rain.
No Colorado Potato Bugs, slugs, or any other leaf chomping insects, problems now.
The only drawback is the DE does in any insect that it comes in contact so some good ones are taken as well.
Microscopically the DE is made from dead sea creatures 97% pure silica-so the ant walks in it, takes it back to nest, it's like walking through glass shards for them. Cuts the soft underside of the joints-and they bleed out.
So it's safe to put on any household surface ant trail, and one doesn't have to worry about contamination of food.
I just looking yesterday at the potato and squash leaves-since applying the DE all the new growth is thick/green and hardy looking.
(Disclaimer-I'm all for organic foods-so my views reflect that)