skip to main content

Tomato Pests & Diseases

Tiny black bug with wings, please advise

14 years ago

Hi,

There are also small white patches with tiny black specks on my tomato leaves. At first I though the leaves were just "dirty" with soil. But upon further examination it see I'm tiny 1-2 mm long black bugs with wings. The leaves are also slightly curled up, lengthwise like a hot dog. I am growing Brandywine, Purple Cheeroke, Green Zebra and Sungold. The Sungold plant don't seem affect, only the potato leaves. I will work on uploading a picture as soon as I locate my camera...

Is this a serious problem? What can I do?

Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

missingtheobvious
14 years ago
You may have aphids. There are many kinds; white, black, pink, and green are the colors of those which attack tomatoes. Some life stages have wings, others don't. It is common to see more than one life stage together.
photos of (mostly) black aphids on (mostly) tomatoes

Aphids suck plant juices, stealing energy from the plant.

To get rid of them, you can squish them by hand, wash them off by spraying water (but the splash may knock disease-causing bacteria or spores from the soil onto your plant), spray with a solution containing Neem oil or soybean oil (available at your garden center), or spray with water to which a small amount of mild dish soap (not anything that says "detergent") has been added.

This seems to be the ultimate aphids-on-tomatoes thread:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg0518184110959.html
Related Professionals
Waterloo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Joplin Landscape Contractors · Tupelo Landscape Contractors · Vicksburg Landscape Contractors · Winston-Salem Landscape Contractors · Zanesville Landscape Contractors · Williamsburg Landscape Contractors · Webster Landscape Contractors · Willmar Landscape Contractors · Toledo Landscape Contractors · Lagrange Landscape Contractors · Waterbury Home Additions · Bemidji Home Additions · Janesville Home Additions · Santa Rosa Home Additions

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Porch Life: Banish the Bugs

By Becky Harris

Don't let insects be the bane of your sweet tea and swing time. These screening and product ideas will help keep bugs at bay on the porch

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Decor to Make Your Eyes Bug Out

By Noelani Zervas

Insects are marching to a different tune these days, showing up on knobs, teapots and even tablecloths

EARTH DAY How to Help Your Town’s Beneficial Birds and Bugs

By Annie Thornton

Make a habitat using local materials to provide a home to the creatures that help our gardens

SUMMER GARDENING Houzz Call: Please Show Us Your Summer Garden!

By Annie Thornton

Share pictures of your home and yard this summer — we’d love to feature them in an upcoming story

BATHROOM DESIGN Upload of the Day: A Mini Fridge in the Master Bathroom? Yes, Please!

By Mitchell Parker

Talk about convenience. Better yet, get it yourself after being inspired by this Texas bath

HOUSEPLANTS Mother-in-Law's Tongue: Surprisingly Easy to Please

By creative jewish mom.com

This low-maintenance, high-impact houseplant, also known as snake plant, fits in with any design

DREAM SPACES My Houzz: Winging It in a Scottish Castle

By Cathy Rebecca

Bold decor mixes with turrets and open fires to create a home that’s grand yet welcoming

FLOORS Drama’s Afoot With Striking Black Floors

Be bold. Be brave. Drench your floors in black for a memorable interior scene

COLOR 11 Reasons to Paint Your Ceiling Black

Mask flaws, trick the eye, create drama ... a black ceiling solves a host of design dilemmas while looking smashing

COLOR Bathed in Color: When to Use Black in the Bath

By Jennifer Ott Design

Dare to bring black in for a dramatic and elegant bath that's different from all the rest

Sponsored

More Discussions

Tomato watering

21