Is this thrips damage?

luigiwu · July 13, 2022

I though my tomato plants was suffering from a thrips infestation so I did a soapy-spray yesterday. Today they look worst than ever. Thoughts?
(Hope the link works)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EsRZpf6gZoPNmXsh9
http://tomatoville.com/picture.php?a...pictureid=3519

kurt · July 13, 2022

Take all leaves off.Looks like some kind of aphid.Put on white paper and see if they move.Note the vein's where they are sucking out the moisture.I spray a bonide product early in the morning before full sun.A magnifying glass will help to ID.Bag leaves,some aphids do fly.

PNW_D · July 13, 2022

my first thought is spider mite

luigiwu · July 13, 2022

Hi guys, so either spider mite or aphids, the soapy water spray (Dawn + water) should work, correct? ... applied last night but I swear it looked worst today!!

Kurt, if I take off all the leaves, I don't think there will be any left to produce food for the plant!

kurt · July 13, 2022

I agree it does look like mites.As long as there are new growth suckers you should be all right.Good luck.

b54red · July 31, 2022

Sorry I haven't been on the site lately. It is spider mites and soapy water won't get rid of them by itself. You need a stout dose of Permethrin or something stronger and you need to apply it more than once probably. It is an annual problem here when the hot dry spells last too long. Spider mites will stop almost all tomato production and kill any fruit set once they get bad. Stopping them early is the best action that can be taken otherwise you will lose a lot of leaves and have a big section of your plant that will be totally unproductive. Despite having a large population of ladybugs I had to spray my tomatoes for spider mites yesterday and my Peppers for a sudden influx of Leaf footed bugs that were ruining the fruit of both the peppers and tomatoes.

Bill

July 13, 2022	#1
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Is this thrips damage? I though my tomato plants was suffering from a thrips infestation so I did a soapy-spray yesterday. Today they look worst than ever. Thoughts? (Hope the link works) https://photos.app.goo.gl/EsRZpf6gZoPNmXsh9 http://tomatoville.com/picture.php?a...pictureid=3519 __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7! Last edited by luigiwu; July 13, 2022 at 01:15 PM.

July 13, 2022	#2
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	Take all leaves off.Looks like some kind of aphid.Put on white paper and see if they move.Note the vein's where they are sucking out the moisture.I spray a bonide product early in the morning before full sun.A magnifying glass will help to ID.Bag leaves,some aphids do fly. __________________ KURT

July 13, 2022	#3
PNW_D Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Coast, Canada Posts: 961	my first thought is spider mite __________________ D.

July 13, 2022	#4
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Hi guys, so either spider mite or aphids, the soapy water spray (Dawn + water) should work, correct? ... applied last night but I swear it looked worst today!! Kurt, if I take off all the leaves, I don't think there will be any left to produce food for the plant! __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

July 13, 2022	#5
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	I agree it does look like mites.As long as there are new growth suckers you should be all right.Good luck. __________________ KURT

July 31, 2022	#6
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Sorry I haven't been on the site lately. It is spider mites and soapy water won't get rid of them by itself. You need a stout dose of Permethrin or something stronger and you need to apply it more than once probably. It is an annual problem here when the hot dry spells last too long. Spider mites will stop almost all tomato production and kill any fruit set once they get bad. Stopping them early is the best action that can be taken otherwise you will lose a lot of leaves and have a big section of your plant that will be totally unproductive. Despite having a large population of ladybugs I had to spray my tomatoes for spider mites yesterday and my Peppers for a sudden influx of Leaf footed bugs that were ruining the fruit of both the peppers and tomatoes. Bill