I see the Calif Forum folks gave you an ID
"Cyrtopeltis modesta AKA Tomato Bug or Tomato Suck Bug"

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg0712342113187.html?3

Not included there is the final picture here -- a fly.

Here is a link that might be useful: Answer from CA Forum

Thanks for posting thag follow up, Jean. I've never heard of this one.

Seems as if it's a CA sort of thing.
See this
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783301811.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Cyrtopeltis modesta at UC IPM

Yep. Particularly for me--- SoCal and indeterminate tomatoes.

I'm doing "ok" with my beneficials but I'm still working on the diversity of plants to attract the pirate bugs and such. I'm still trying to figure out how to get some buckwheat and/or alfalfa into my tiny backyard. And I don't ever see yarrow or tansy seeds/seedlings at the garden centers.

I was hoping that lacewings would be able to take care of these pests because I definitely am going to purchase some in the next week. I just don't want to shell out more money for the "other" beneficials if I don't have a nice home for them to put out future generations.

Looks like UC IPM isn't as thorough for the tomato bug as they are for other pests.

You never had to deal with them when you lived down here jean?

Thanks

Kevin

I saw them, or something very similar, on my tomato plants but I didn't see damage. (So, perhaps was something else?)

I don't see mention of when they arrived in CA. (I left in Nov 1997.)

This post was edited by jean001a on Sun, Jul 14, 13 at 19:47