Please help id this pest

[Dewayne mater]

I have a couple of plants in tainers that have some leaves that are being attacked and the result looks like this picture. I think the destroyers are in the picture and are a light brown color. I can't get my camera to zoom in any better than this, but, hopefully someone will recognize either the symptom or the critter and chime in.

I've been spraying with a combination of neem oil and insecticidal soap. (one time a week Xs 2) So far, these pests seem to scoff at me. I could go get take down spray, but, was hoping to avoid that since pyrethrins are actually quite powerful and definitely harm good guys as well. Still, I want to win the war, so I may be forced down that road. Your thoughts appreciated.

Dewayne Mater

[O.P. Mater]

Dewayne,

Taking a stab in the dark, could it be thrip larvae? Am going to include a link I found......scroll to the 2nd picture and see if what you are seeing looks like the picture. I had to use a magnifying glass to see them last year.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...cts/03-077.htm

I am sure someone else will come along that will recognize them. Wish I could be more help.

[Dewayne mater]

Thanks O.P. I can't rule it out, but, I don't know if that is it or not. At first I thought flea beetles because of the holes. Then I know I saw some aphids. However, the bugs I think are visible on these leaves are white and others are light brown. I don't think foliage with Thrip damage look like this. Still hoping for some other insights. Thanks.

Dewayne mater.

[augiedog55]

It might be spider mites.Thats how my plants leaves looked before they completely took over last summer.

[Dewayne mater]

I'm thinking I may have flea beetles. I found a couple of them on different plants. One bounded away and slightly squished the next one to keep that from happening. From what i can tell, it was a flea beetle. I will try one more application of insecticidal soap, but, if that isn't clearly effective, I'm heading down Take Down highway.

Dewayne mater.

[puttgirl]

Looks like flea beetle damage to me.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by augiedog55

It might be spider mites.Thats how my plants leaves looked before they completely took over last summer.

After reading your post I decided to check my tomatoes for spider mites and lo and behold I found them. They were so bad on one small plant I just yanked it out. I have never had spider mites this early. I'm going to go out this afternoon and get some more insect growth regulator and start spraying and see if I can stop them before they get too bad on the rest of my plants.

[augiedog55]

Red, I hate spider mites. I didn't know what I had until it was too late last yr.I hope you get rid of them. I'll be keeping an eye out for them this y. I know what to look for.. If what you use works please let us know so if they show up I'll be ready for them. I think Raybo said he used take down from walmart and it worked. Keep us posted
Bruce