Are these guys thrips?

CLa · May 14, 2007

My Cherokee green is loaded with these bugs. No disease or anything wrong with plant, but these guys sure seem to like this one plant. No stink bugs are they?

bcday · May 14, 2007

They all look like aphids to me, not thrips or stinkbugs.

shelleybean · May 14, 2007

They look like aphids to me, too. Thrips look like tiny houseflies. The ones I've seen are mostly black with a little orange on their bodies.

lavandula girl · May 14, 2007

I thought aphids, too. Here's a pic of thrips:

CLa · May 14, 2007

The plant is loaded with them, I'm thinking of nuking with something, hmm with what though...

Gimme3 · May 14, 2007

Wingless aphids are toted up to the prime new tender growth areas of several garden plants...by Ants. I keep tryin to find mild ways to help our native ants, but...alas...this is what a native ant does...))) U can blow the aphids off with a directed stream of water(sometimes you have to hold the plant whilst doing so, to not knock it over)..and the Ants will have to re-group an try an re-build the Farm. Im experimenting in several ways...to try an see if theres a way...the native ants need for honeydew, could be satisfied or deterred.... One of the things im kinda thinkin might be helpful , is pinestraw. Or...some call it pine needles. If you ponder the work...that ants have to do to tote aphids up a trunk of a plant, place them in position...an work their Farm...an then ponder how high you can mulch around a plant w/pinestraw...so as to create literal hell for them to struggle an try an climb thru, plus a little DE (diatomaceous earth)...then..u might understand where im leadin ya. Knock em off w/water, an disturb/rearrange mulch. Make the ants work their tails off tryin to keep up w/changin scenarios. As soon as a Tomato gets strong, if it does...its natural defenses cause it to become far less desirable for honeydew production. Ants like to Farm...young tender plants/growth.

a Wingless aphid can not place itself in a position to milk a plant. It requires an ant, to take it to the Right Spot.If you knock them off w/water streams...they will need assistance to return...but come back in 30 minutes, an you will SEE jus that...ants totin em back up the stem. After it grows wings...i think it continues a few more days predating...but soon leaves naturally, propably to go breed, lay eggs an die.

Aphids are a very interestin study, an a creature that has a symbiotic relationship w/sugar-eating ants, as well as some hybridized fireants.

The Real Key...over the Long Haul, is for the plant's environment and health to be Good. Plants w/strong aspirations/capabilities, defend themselves eventually...quite well against aphid attack, an thats why the ants move their farmin operations over to weaker plant.. Plants that find themselves somehow weakened ...thru a plethora of other possible means/conditions...find it hard to fight...so many obstacles at one time.

Good Luck..)))

Suze · May 14, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLa

The plant is loaded with them, I'm thinking of nuking with something, hmm with what though...

Insecticidal soap. Twice a week until you have the problem under control. Don't use when direct sun is on the plants, or rinse off after a few minutes. Pay particular attention to undersides of leaves.

You can make your own (do a search on soap for this subforum) or purchase (GardenSafe is a brand I like).

NCTIM · May 14, 2007

Hey, are you taking pictures of my plants?

I have the same issue as you and soap is my plan of attack.

Tim

CLa · May 14, 2007

Thanks for the feedback, Suze looking into that as we speak ,thanks. Gimmi3, good info, seems hard to believe that all these guys made it to these heights though by ants, sure they are not laying eggs? The plant is huge, mature, and the aphids (if they are that) are even on some of the highest points at least 5 feet up.

Gimme3 · May 15, 2007

CLA...the reason they are at the highest points is this...thats Where the tenderest growth is.. I caint tell you..u'd jus have to Witness it yoself...but believe me....aphids do no harm, and Leave...a Strong Plant,a plant fully Capable thru its environment grown in, to defend itself. Infestation is a Sign...that the plant is lacking...natural Ability...it then becomes a question...the Grower needs to Ponder...as to... WHY. There is a natural inhibitor to predation, present...in a Tomato, i forget the name of it, but i could go find it for you...an probly will, jus so i remember it...Aphids, have a very short life, they couldnt even survive an prosper, without an Ant. Insect Attack...on ANY Plant...is a Sign...to be pondered over, by the Grower, because...insects only attack....weak plants...incapable of growing into their natural defenses.

If you hear what im sayin...THATS WHY...Powerful soil, constant understandings to the abilties we have to give plants a Great Home...a Cultivated home...is the Key...99 times out of 100. But it takes...some Ground/Earth level....observations an trials...to come to gain deeper understandings of how Life processes work...in our Own growin areas...an Really...thats what We was Meant to do...))) Good Luck w/them aphids...they are tellin you somethin...on a 5 foot Plant...)))

**Lee** · May 16, 2007

Fingers work great on aphids.
Catch 'em early and fast and you won't have a problem.

I stay away from anything other than fingers, because I also have lady bug larvae helping to keep them at bay.

My DW saw lady bug larvae coming up out the grass like last year. One of the few infestations of insects I'm glad to see!

Lee

Jonathan_E · June 16, 2007

There are around 4000 species of aphids, I regret to say. The one that mostly troubles my tomato plants is the green peach aphid. I don't think it requires farming ants to get to the plant, since it can be carried on the wind and the adults sometimes have wings. Here's an article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid

Jonathan_E · June 16, 2007

Here's an article specifically on the green peach aphid that's been a problem for me; http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/ap...each_aphid.htm

hasshoes · June 17, 2007

Someone gave me some organic Coast of Maine salmon spray, and even after a thunderstorm, the results are amazing (I went from an infestation to not finding any bugs today at all!) I don't know how many rainstorms it will last, but I had to scrub my hands repeatedly with harsh dish liquid to get it off, so keep it off yourself unless you wanna repell humans!!! ;-)

oh2fly · June 20, 2007

No one has mentioned letting a bunch of ladybugs loose in the patch. They love aphids!

May 14, 2007	#3
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	They look like aphids to me, too. Thrips look like tiny houseflies. The ones I've seen are mostly black with a little orange on their bodies. __________________ Michele

May 14, 2007	#4
lavandula girl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 64	I thought aphids, too. Here's a pic of thrips: __________________ Mostly Harmless

May 14, 2007	#6
Gimme3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northeast Georgia, USA Posts: 348	Wingless aphids are toted up to the prime new tender growth areas of several garden plants...by Ants. I keep tryin to find mild ways to help our native ants, but...alas...this is what a native ant does...))) U can blow the aphids off with a directed stream of water(sometimes you have to hold the plant whilst doing so, to not knock it over)..and the Ants will have to re-group an try an re-build the Farm. Im experimenting in several ways...to try an see if theres a way...the native ants need for honeydew, could be satisfied or deterred.... One of the things im kinda thinkin might be helpful , is pinestraw. Or...some call it pine needles. If you ponder the work...that ants have to do to tote aphids up a trunk of a plant, place them in position...an work their Farm...an then ponder how high you can mulch around a plant w/pinestraw...so as to create literal hell for them to struggle an try an climb thru, plus a little DE (diatomaceous earth)...then..u might understand where im leadin ya. Knock em off w/water, an disturb/rearrange mulch. Make the ants work their tails off tryin to keep up w/changin scenarios. As soon as a Tomato gets strong, if it does...its natural defenses cause it to become far less desirable for honeydew production. Ants like to Farm...young tender plants/growth. a Wingless aphid can not place itself in a position to milk a plant. It requires an ant, to take it to the Right Spot.If you knock them off w/water streams...they will need assistance to return...but come back in 30 minutes, an you will SEE jus that...ants totin em back up the stem. After it grows wings...i think it continues a few more days predating...but soon leaves naturally, propably to go breed, lay eggs an die. Aphids are a very interestin study, an a creature that has a symbiotic relationship w/sugar-eating ants, as well as some hybridized fireants. The Real Key...over the Long Haul, is for the plant's environment and health to be Good. Plants w/strong aspirations/capabilities, defend themselves eventually...quite well against aphid attack, an thats why the ants move their farmin operations over to weaker plant.. Plants that find themselves somehow weakened ...thru a plethora of other possible means/conditions...find it hard to fight...so many obstacles at one time. Good Luck..))) __________________ ....Can you tell a green Field.....from a cold steel rail ? Roger Waters, David Gilmour

May 14, 2007	#8
NCTIM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: zone 8 NC Posts: 286	Hey, are you taking pictures of my plants? I have the same issue as you and soap is my plan of attack. Tim __________________ "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra

May 15, 2007	#10
Gimme3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northeast Georgia, USA Posts: 348	CLA...the reason they are at the highest points is this...thats Where the tenderest growth is.. I caint tell you..u'd jus have to Witness it yoself...but believe me....aphids do no harm, and Leave...a Strong Plant,a plant fully Capable thru its environment grown in, to defend itself. Infestation is a Sign...that the plant is lacking...natural Ability...it then becomes a question...the Grower needs to Ponder...as to... WHY. There is a natural inhibitor to predation, present...in a Tomato, i forget the name of it, but i could go find it for you...an probly will, jus so i remember it...Aphids, have a very short life, they couldnt even survive an prosper, without an Ant. Insect Attack...on ANY Plant...is a Sign...to be pondered over, by the Grower, because...insects only attack....weak plants...incapable of growing into their natural defenses. If you hear what im sayin...THATS WHY...Powerful soil, constant understandings to the abilties we have to give plants a Great Home...a Cultivated home...is the Key...99 times out of 100. But it takes...some Ground/Earth level....observations an trials...to come to gain deeper understandings of how Life processes work...in our Own growin areas...an Really...thats what We was Meant to do...))) Good Luck w/them aphids...they are tellin you somethin...on a 5 foot Plant...))) __________________ ....Can you tell a green Field.....from a cold steel rail ? Roger Waters, David Gilmour

May 14, 2007	#2
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	They all look like aphids to me, not thrips or stinkbugs.

May 14, 2007	#5
CLa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central Louisiana. Zone: 8 Posts: 207	The plant is loaded with them, I'm thinking of nuking with something, hmm with what though...

May 16, 2007	#11
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Fingers work great on aphids. Catch 'em early and fast and you won't have a problem. I stay away from anything other than fingers, because I also have lady bug larvae helping to keep them at bay. My DW saw lady bug larvae coming up out the grass like last year. One of the few infestations of insects I'm glad to see! Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

June 16, 2007	#12
Jonathan_E Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 111	There are around 4000 species of aphids, I regret to say. The one that mostly troubles my tomato plants is the green peach aphid. I don't think it requires farming ants to get to the plant, since it can be carried on the wind and the adults sometimes have wings. Here's an article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphid

June 17, 2007	#14
hasshoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MT Posts: 438	Someone gave me some organic Coast of Maine salmon spray, and even after a thunderstorm, the results are amazing (I went from an infestation to not finding any bugs today at all!) I don't know how many rainstorms it will last, but I had to scrub my hands repeatedly with harsh dish liquid to get it off, so keep it off yourself unless you wanna repell humans!!! ;-)

June 20, 2007	#15
oh2fly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 29	No one has mentioned letting a bunch of ladybugs loose in the patch. They love aphids!