Pre-caff looks like woolly aphid at that resolution.

Dan

Scale?

Could be scale at that resolution too. I was going off the plant.

Dan

It definitely looks like the tops of woolly aphids but it is literally just white "fluff". When I run my fingers over it, it's like powder. No movement, no legs.

I'll try to get a better picture. It's tiny, almost like diatomaceous earth was sprinkled on the stem.

They look more like mealybug than anything else I can think of.

Wash off using insecticidal soap or treat with neem.

Jim

My first thought was mealy bugs but there are is no "bug"...all I see is this white fluffy stuff...BUT...I think I found the culprit and it seems like it might be excretion. Here are a few pics. It's a tiny, brown winged insect almost like a leafhopper but bigger. It seems to take short flights or "jumps".

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That wing pattern looks familiar but I tossed all my lab texts & all that wing pattern stuff a distant memory now. I guess I can see that being excreta - I see it on another lf stalk too - are you ferting with too much N?

Surely your Co Extension can ID that pronto, sorry I can't. I'm sure I'll do a forehead slap.

Dan

Perhaps psyllids?

Found this statement
"The nymphs don't move once they settle down to suck plant juices. They excrete small, waxy beads of white "psyllid sugar" (photo left) as they feed for 2 to 3 weeks."

The article with an image of nymphs and "sugar" is at http://frontrangefoodgardener.blogspot.com/2010/07/tomato-potato-psyllids-watch.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato/potato psyllids (also go to pepper)

jean links to our bud Carl!

Nonetheless, psyllids hold their wings in a roof, not flat. The pic is some sort of fly, but I can't remember what. Most flies don't have piercing-sucking mouthparts so we're (me and the BH) trying to figger out what flies do this (provided that the killed bug wasn't an opportunist enjoying the sucrose and not the instigator of the problem). Flies were a long time ago.

Dan

I dunno, but I'm in Tucson, and have had the same exact stuff on my basil in previous years, and a bit on my tomatoes this year. I wash it off with water, and don't see any other damage, at least not so far... But have no idea what it is...

Nope not a fly. The thing has 4 wings. Flies only have 2.

I looked through the entire list of pest at the Arizona Master Gardener site and Potato Psyllid is the only one that looks anything like it.

Here is a link that might be useful: ENTOMOLOGY: INSECT PESTS

You're right jean.

First, it may be psyllid damage, but my toms get them every year and you can see the psyllid nymphs on the lvs no problem. That foto upthread is not a psyllid. I wonder if it is simply an opportunist, maybe feeding on the sugar.

Fun!

Dan

Thanks for all the responses! I haven't been able to get to our extension office for identification. The description of the psyllid excretion sounds similar but I don't see any of the "white stuff" on the actual leaves...only the stems. I also have not found any psyllids. Dan could be right that the bug I found might be an opportunist. I'll keep on searching for suspects ha! All the plants are extremely healthy with no sign of insect dammage...maybe it'll show up later - we'll see.

I don't think I've been using too much Nitrogen. I applied some 5-2-2 organic fertilizer (mainly alfalfa) at transplanting time and then side-dressed 6 weeks later. I don't see any signs of excessive nitrogen...my peppers especially have lots of flowers and are setting fuit very nicely.

It's not a trichogramma wasp, is it?

Outstanding guess, but IMHO no. The Extension Office has computers and e-mail, and the excellent wing foto and others will be enough for ID.

Both of us are going to slap each others forehead when the answer comes.

Dan

I have the same thing on grape stems, blackberry canes, long-stemmed flowers... no discernable eggs, just fluff. I see no damage or evidence of the plants suffering so just rub it out. It comes back within a week. Leaves are all free of it. Usually it's in a neat line up one side only of the stem. I've seen it in years past, but don't remember there being so much of it. Hope someone can identify it...thanks for posting, kingkongos