Very small tomato blossom bug

[OkieDan]

I have started vibrating my tomato blossoms with a toothbrush, and it seems to work. When I gather pollen for cross pollination, a few very small bugs fall out. Is this a bad thing?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by OkieDan

I have started vibrating my tomato blossoms with a toothbrush, and it seems to work. When I gather pollen for cross pollination, a few very small bugs fall out. Is this a bad thing?

It all depends are they just recording voice or taking video too.

Worth

[OkieDan]

Very funny. You have a good sense of humor.

[Worth1]

Thanks.
What do they look like?
I have never had a tiny bug come out of a blossom before.
Can you take a picture of them?

Worth

[OkieDan]

Why did u decide to spy on me?

[OkieDan]

They are are about the size of a human hair, probably smaller, maybe 3 millimeters long. I do know how to post picture yet. I keep wanting to swat them, but it wipes away the pollen. They move pretty quickly to be so small.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by OkieDan

Why did u decide to spy on me?

No really I am asking about a real insect bug not a CIA bug.

I Googled tiny bugs in tomato blossom and couldn't come up with anything definitive.

No spying here.

Worth

[OkieDan]

Ditto.

[Stvrob]

Originally Posted by OkieDan

They are are about the size of a human hair, probably smaller, maybe 3 millimeters long....

Those are KGB

[OkieDan]

What kind of tomato is that?

[Stvrob]

Kellogg's Breakfast

[Lorri D]

If they look like moving splinters, I had them on my cucumber blossoms last year and they eat pollen and parts of the flowers. I believe that they are some sort of blossom thrip. As the season went on, my plants out produced their ability to cause harm, though they did delay my first set of fruit. Lorri D

[Dewayne mater]

It could be Thrips, Psyilids or spider mites to name a few. All can be bad news. Thrips are known vectors for TSVW, a major problem if you get it. Pictures would be helpful in a diagnosis. Most of these can be controlled, but early is key. Here is a reference you might look at. http://ucipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7429.html
Good luck.

Dewayne Mater

[OkieDan]

Thanks, they do look like moving splinters. So small that I can not even see their legs. I guess there is enough pollen to go around. I do not see them until they fall out of the bloom. Up to 3 in a bloom. I guess one could spray with something, but I don't know if it would do any good. I guess isn't bad enough if blooms are setting fruits.

[Dewayne mater]

If it is thrips, and they look to me like what you've described, a few can be a big problem. (they look different magnified, fyi). That problem is, they transmit TSWV and because they chew up the plant and suck on it, they are apparently very successful at transmitting disease, if they have it. Spinosad will kill them and is relatively less harmful than other sprays. You must repeat again within a week though, as their off spring will return. There are other control measures that are less harmful, like green lacewings I believe. Whatever you are comfortable with. Google thrip control and you'll see the options.

DM