Tiny black bugs on stems & back of leaves of plants

[nniemiec]

In the past few days these small black bugs (I assume they're aphids) have appeared on many of my plants. I've read about using soap as a means to rid them. How serious of a problem can this become if untreated?

Does anyone else have any tips or experience to share regarding this?

Thanks in advance!

[twillis2252]

I feel your pain and frustration. Having the same issues. I have sprayed the bleach mixture w/detergent, neem oil, and fungicide. Knocks them out for a few days then they are back. Last week applied a light coat of sevin. But in five days they returned. I have potatoes planted near by and they are on them also. Been waiting for the lady bugs to show but I have seen some of the little bees that devour aphids. Because of my regular fungicide and bleach application schedule I am not too concerned as the plants are growing well so far...

[nniemiec]

something I read suggested that high enriched soil is a magnet for these guys. I spent considerable time conditioning my soil, so I suppose there's a reason not to over-do it!

[GrowingCoastal]

When I had a garden in delta soil I had the black aphids show up on various vegetables. Then I read about the Canada thistle being a magnet for these insects so I let a few grow where there were aphid problems and voila! The aphids did go to the thistles and stayed there rather than the vegetables.

The area I live in now does not have this perennial thistle. I am not going to introduce it as it has long roots and becomes invasive. I found black aphids on my one artichoke plant yesterday, a relative of the thistle. Someone told me that they wash off easily with the hose so I will try that. Surprisingly, not on the nasturtiums yet.

They will often appear on the broad beans but the advice there is to pinch out the tip to have them go away. One year I had a ladybug farm on a set of broad beans. It took a long while but was fun watching the ladybugs hatch out their larvae. Not something I would try with a whole row of plants I wanted to pick from. Too messy, too long.

[Canehdian]

Could also be flea beetles. You can tell if they jump like a flea does when startled, and they eat small holes in the leaves...

[zipcode]

I find that the black aphids don't really thrive on tomatoes. They will multiply a bit but never take off like on eggplants for example, I never had a real problem with them. The green ones are a bit worse.