Tiny insects in tomato flowers

Mantis · December 1, 2006

Hi folks.
I have noticed for some years now that when I try to tap pollen out of flowers in my outside garden I am more likely to get some tiny crawling insects on my pinky than pollen.
I have googled with no response. Has anyone seen this or know what the little buggers might be. I am wondering if they are why I get so few fruit set on my plants in the garden.
I don't notice many of them at all in the greenhouse.
Thanks
Mantis

bizzarbazzar · December 1, 2006

any chance you can post a pic ? (sometimes tiny bug pics come out ok in macro setting)

Mantis · December 2, 2006

My camera is not good enough to capture these little fellas. They are about 1mm long.

bizzarbazzar · December 2, 2006

Do they look like this? they are teeny tiny? these guys don't fly at this stage in their life (not that I know of)

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EDISImagePa...%2016&credits=

or do your little buggies fly? jump? crawl?

what color are they?

they could be a form of mite, flea beetle etc.

Please, I hope no one thinks I like bugs, but I do have a 4 year old who watches some show called Ms Spiders Sunnypatch (something or other) and the theme there is be good to bugs. So I have been forced to do things either behind his back, or look at them closely (ICK) I may not know what damage they do or can cause, but I have spent quite a bit of time looking at them in detail. Also, I am not certain if we even have the same bugs as you guys over there

Mantis · December 3, 2006

No, not like them. These are little black things that run very quickly over your finger. The next time I find a flower with them in, I will disect the flower to see if they are doing damage.

dcarch · December 3, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mantis

My camera is not good enough to capture these little fellas. They are about 1mm long.

You can buy closeup lens attchments (eBay) for your camera. Not expensive. Find out the diameter of you lens and get the correct size.

You can also take O.K. closeup picture by putting a magnifying glass in front of your camera's lens.

dcarch

**carolyn137** · December 3, 2006

Mantis, check out thrips which would be my first guess b/c they're known to get into blossoms, and then gnats as well.

**Patrina_Pepperina** · December 22, 2006

I also think they are thrips - they often give me a nip when I'm gathering pollen and they land on my hand. They also give my plants spotted wilt virus, grrrrrrrrr

They feed on pollen, and often leave the anther cone looking rather brown and rotten.

The best thing I've used are sticky yellow traps - I bought them online a couple years ago but can't remember the name and no longer have the link

PP

Mantis · December 23, 2006

Thrips they may be , thanks. I gave my outside plants in one area a good dose of derris dust. Getting lots of fruit set on them now.
PP, I have been getting those dried up anther cones as well. Bloody frustrating, and a shame I have to use chemicals to combat it. Got some Grubs Mystery Greens and Gary O'Senas going now thow. Chemical power eh.
Wheres Organic Nut, I feel like some biff oh

December 1, 2006	#1
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	Tiny insects in tomato flowers Hi folks. I have noticed for some years now that when I try to tap pollen out of flowers in my outside garden I am more likely to get some tiny crawling insects on my pinky than pollen. I have googled with no response. Has anyone seen this or know what the little buggers might be. I am wondering if they are why I get so few fruit set on my plants in the garden. I don't notice many of them at all in the greenhouse. Thanks Mantis

December 3, 2006	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Mantis, check out thrips which would be my first guess b/c they're known to get into blossoms, and then gnats as well. __________________ Carolyn

December 22, 2006	#8
Patrina_Pepperina Cross Hemisphere Dwarf Project™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 3,094	I also think they are thrips - they often give me a nip when I'm gathering pollen and they land on my hand. They also give my plants spotted wilt virus, grrrrrrrrr They feed on pollen, and often leave the anther cone looking rather brown and rotten. The best thing I've used are sticky yellow traps - I bought them online a couple years ago but can't remember the name and no longer have the link PP __________________ Truth is colourful, not just black and white. PP: 2005

December 1, 2006	#2
bizzarbazzar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 811	any chance you can post a pic ? (sometimes tiny bug pics come out ok in macro setting)

December 2, 2006	#3
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	My camera is not good enough to capture these little fellas. They are about 1mm long.

December 23, 2006	#9
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	Thrips they may be , thanks. I gave my outside plants in one area a good dose of derris dust. Getting lots of fruit set on them now. PP, I have been getting those dried up anther cones as well. Bloody frustrating, and a shame I have to use chemicals to combat it. Got some Grubs Mystery Greens and Gary O'Senas going now thow. Chemical power eh. Wheres Organic Nut, I feel like some biff oh