Tiny green eggs?

tomwinfl · May 12, 2014

I found what appear to be tiny green eggs on the underside of a tomato leaf. They were covered by a grey cocoon-like shroud until I touched it, then the green balls were visible. That's a utility knife blade for scale. Are these good guys or bad guys? Should I be worried?

TIA

Tomwinfl

KarenO · May 12, 2014

spider mites I think. destroy this leaf and check your plants carefully for more.
Karen

kurt · May 12, 2014

http://search.aol.com/aol/image?v_t=...cc4faa07977aa6

Ditto,get em before they go crazy.I think out of all the critters these are the fastest and most damaging,plus their bites do vector maladys if present.

RayR · May 13, 2014

Those eggs look way too large to be from spider mites.

KarenO · May 13, 2014

Quite tiny if you see the blade of the knife is comparison
Ko
Very clear macro shot by the way. Kudos to the photographer

RayR · May 13, 2014

The spider mite eggs I've seen are much smaller than the tip of that blade. So are the spider mites. Clear picture but those eggs look visible to the naked eye.

KarenO · May 13, 2014

Maybe just spider eggs in which case they might be beneficial? Look for an adult in the vicinity

tomwinfl · May 13, 2014

I did that, thanks. I found a small web (first pic) but also some damaged leaves (second pic.) BTW, I just used my 3-year droid bionic phone for the pic. It does pretty good closeups if the light's bright enough.

Randall · May 13, 2014

I'm not completely sure what you have there. Here's a pic of a one of my pepper plant seedlings that had spider mites. I remember the eggs being an off white type of color. This is a good picture of what the adults looked like. A little bit of determined hand picking cleared it up but that was only because I was lucky enough to see it early. Hopefully, this can help and someone who knows more will help out

RayR · May 13, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randall

I'm not completely sure what you have there. Here's a pic of a one of my pepper plant seedlings that had spider mites. I remember the eggs being an off white type of color. This is a good picture of what the adults looked like. A little bit of determined hand picking cleared it up but that was only because I was lucky enough to see it early. Hopefully, this can help and someone who knows more will help out

Those are aphids Randall. If those were spider mites they would be so small that they would be nearly invisible in that photo, like a speck of dust.

Labradors2 · May 13, 2014

I cannot comment on the eggs, but I notice some caterpillar droppings and chewed leaves there, so you might want to check that out.....

Linda

Worth1 · May 13, 2014

Bugs dont spin webs or make cocoons like that, caterpillars and spiders do.
Caterpillars dont lay eggs.
So there you have it, you killed a spiders family.
I see these things on my plants all of the time with a little mother spider near by.

Worth

Labradors2 · May 13, 2014

Oh Worth, I wasn't insinuating that the caterpillars were responsible for the eggs. I should have been more clear. I should have said that, in addition to the eggs, there is a caterpillar lurking on that plant, and it should be checked out.

Linda

Worth1 · May 13, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Oh Worth, I wasn't insinuating that the caterpillars were responsible for the eggs. I should have been more clear. I should have said that, in addition to the eggs, there is a caterpillar lurking on that plant, and it should be checked out.

Linda

I didn't think you were.

I was merely using deduction to verify the source of the eggs.

Caterpillar, no eggs,
Stinkbug spider mite, no web or cocoon.
Small jumping spider, eggs under cocoon, under or inside rolled up leaf.

Worth

RootLoops · May 13, 2014

mix up a tablespoon of molasses, 20ml dish soap, and the juice of several garlic in a gallon of water and spray on all the surfaces and the caterpillars will stay away, repeat after rain or once a week. the leaves that look the worst in pic 2 of post #8 almost looks like a fungus but i've never seen that before so i don't know, whatever it is it's definitely causing damage. i love spiders in the garden they are at work 24/7.

May 12, 2014	#3
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,501	http://search.aol.com/aol/image?v_t=...cc4faa07977aa6 Ditto,get em before they go crazy.I think out of all the critters these are the fastest and most damaging,plus their bites do vector maladys if present. __________________ KURT

May 12, 2014	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,932	spider mites I think. destroy this leaf and check your plants carefully for more. Karen

May 13, 2014	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Those eggs look way too large to be from spider mites.

May 13, 2014	#11
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,898	I cannot comment on the eggs, but I notice some caterpillar droppings and chewed leaves there, so you might want to check that out..... Linda

May 13, 2014	#12
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Bugs dont spin webs or make cocoons like that, caterpillars and spiders do. Caterpillars dont lay eggs. So there you have it, you killed a spiders family. I see these things on my plants all of the time with a little mother spider near by. Worth

May 13, 2014	#15
RootLoops Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: rienzi, ms Posts: 470	mix up a tablespoon of molasses, 20ml dish soap, and the juice of several garlic in a gallon of water and spray on all the surfaces and the caterpillars will stay away, repeat after rain or once a week. the leaves that look the worst in pic 2 of post #8 almost looks like a fungus but i've never seen that before so i don't know, whatever it is it's definitely causing damage. i love spiders in the garden they are at work 24/7.