Black flies and *maybe* aphids?

[jemsister]

My tom has a bunch of tiny flies all over it. They look like gnats, but they don't fly around, they just hang out on the plant. I noticed, also, a lot of teeny-tiny black "critters" on the leaves. Not necessarily the undersides--actually, I found most to be on top of the leaves, which seems odd for aphids. However, the tom is very large, and I didn't inspect the whole thing. Anyway, question is, are this going to be a problem? Should I find a way to get rid of them? I tried a garlic spray a few times, but it hasn't done jack squat. They are as numerous as they have ever been.

The gnats have vertical translucent wings and black bodies with short legs. I tried to get a picture, but my camera wouldn't focus on them, even with the macro setting on. (I have a very old digital camera, and not a real fancy one at that.)

Other than the mere presence of insects, the tomato is in great health with no signs of damage anywhere.

[digitS']

How about a good spraying with the hose? A good time to do that is early in the morning so that the plants can dry thru the day.

A plant can take quite a bit of spraying pressure without there being any noticeable damage. In fact, they should look better!

Wingless aphids can be blasted elsewhere. If your flying bugs want to hang around, a strong spray of water may convince them otherwise.

What are the chances that the bugs are fungus gnats? A continuously moist soil surface is the right environment for them.

Steve

[jemsister]

I tried the spraying down thing, and they came back. =/ I don't think they are fungus gnats because they don't fly, and they don't go near the soil, they only stay on the plant. They have wings, but they don't use them. I can reach down and pluck them off, and they don't even put up a fight. I've even tried just giving them a little nudge to see what they would do, and they just sit there. If they move at all, it's just maybe a step or two.

I do, however, have gnats hovering around my potted cucumber soil. I'm going to let that one dry a bit and see if they go away. They are only around that pot though, not the other pots.

[n8young]

mix a few drops of dish detergent into a spray bottle with water, and spray the junk out of them. Make sure you are hitting the bugs themselves. This typically will kill the buggers

[rainbowgardener]

Soapy water spray is good, but preferably not dish detergent, which is detergent and can harm your plants. Use real soap, something like ivory, Dr. Brunner's, Murphy's oil soap, etc.

[Cola82]

This post is relevant to me because ever since the weeds got knocked down behind my yard, the aphids landing on my tomatoes tapered off dramatically and now it's just those weird little black flies you're talking about. I also have gnats around the soil of some of my plants, so I know how wily they can be, and the flies hanging out on the tomatoes are just like aphids the way they sit there.

As far as I can, tell they aren't doing any damage, either, but I'd like to know what they are anyway.

[digitS']

I really think that the "flies" are just winged aphids:

Here are a couple of close-ups:

winged aphid

aphids

Potato Aphid on Tomatoes with Controls

Steve

[Cola82]

So it's totally normal for some to be black and some to be green? I still don't understand why the green ones produced wingless offspring and the black ones all produce winged offspring, but I can accept this.

[jemsister]

Steve, that is exactly what they look like. I had no idea there was such a thing as a winged aphid!

Guess I'll be making some soap spray.

[digitS']

I'm just talking thru my hat :

There is probably a winged stage to the survivors at a certain age. Or, there are certain environmental conditions to prompt the development of wings.

I realize that there are many aphid species but their coloring may only be specific to certain stages in their lives, to a matter of degree perhaps. Also, since the dang things are nearly transparent, I imagine that their color may also have to do with what plants they are feeding on. Now with me, I just had a large serving of beets yesterday afternoon . . . .

Steve

[jemsister]

Well, people do turn orange when they eat too many carrots!