Thank you for the tip. I certainly hope that is not what it is! All that info describes a psyllid "attack", that sounds awful. I have seen tiny dead flies stuck to the stems of some of my tomato plants, but they look like regular fruit flies and don't match the striped description of the psyllid flies. I don't have the ability to post pictures, but I will check the underside this weekend and look more closely and try to get back with more info. The scariest part of that information page is where it says that in case of a psyllid attack, most of the damage is done before the problem is detected. But I don't see anything happening. I will report back on Monday.

This is the third season I've had these guys. They are unmistakeable. It looks like someone sprinkled salt or sugar on the leaves, and the insects are on the outer part of the leaf, both underside and topside.
I'm Monterey Ca.
Good luck
Janet

Well, I did find it. So, how does it damage the plants, and what should I do to get rid of it? I am going to look up some info now.

This is what I found on the UC Davis agriculture site:

DAMAGE:
Nymphs and perhaps adults inject a toxin while feeding on the leaf that causes death in transplants, stunting, chlorosis and curling of leaves in preflowering plants, and either no fruit production or overproduction of very small, noncommercial-grade fruit in larger plants. These symptoms are collectively known as "psyllid yellows".

MANAGEMENT:
Tomato psyllid has only occurred recently in southern California fresh market tomato plantings. Currently there is not much information on the status of these pests and how best to manage them.

SO, it seems to say that the damage can be very bad, and they don't really have a clue what to do about them. I found them on my Big Beef and Romas, but I suspect they are on the others too. Frustrating. I would really appreciate any advice or information. Thanks.

Well, I will try to stay calm but this is now a desperate cry for help. I've looked all around the web and keep finding articles and things describing the horrible damage these things do, but so far NOTHING even suggesting what to do about them. The California-specific things I've read seem to regard the psyllid as a brand-new and mystifying pest to California. One article I read was dated June 26 '05 saying the tomato psyllid had "made it to San Diego county". Well...

Can anyone help? Thanks again.

COgarden, I did find some ideas for treating my plants in your link. That's somewhat encouraging, but I'd still like to get some person to person advice. Janetta, can you tell me what effect they had on your plants and what (if anything) you did to get rid of them? And, did anything work? Kurt, what did you do about it? Thanks.

I found them VERY early in the year last year, right after putting my seedlings in the ground. Unfortunately I didn't know what they were at the time. I didn't see any real damage on the leaves where the nymphs were so I chose to just leave them alone. In late july I started seeing really strange new growth on some of the plants. It doesn't look quite like any of the photos in the Tomato Problem Solver. Yellow, sort of twiggy stems, some slight purple coloration also as I recall, no real leaves developed after that. I also saw most of my green toms stop growing for good! Poor little things just sat there for the rest of the season.

To give you an idea of just what a bad infestation it became, picture 11 tomato plants about 5 feet tall, and on nearly EVERY leaf there were at least 50 nymphs. Adults just sat leisurely on the leaves too, they don't seem too interested in flying much. By the time I found out what psyllids are, it was way too late. I never treated with anything. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos. I actually felt a little better when a hail storm shredded my garden!

This weekend, after answering your post, I checked my toms very closely, and guess what? THEY'RE BAAAAACK! I'm hoping that they won't be as damaging this year, since they showed up much later in the season. My plants are about 5' tall, where as last year they were only 1' tall when the psyllids appeared. I've got some insecticidal soap that I am going to try soon. Then I'll repeat the treatment in a couple of weeks. From what I've read insecticidal soap may be a bit too mild to beat them, but I want to try milder treatments before bringing out the big guns!

I did notice that two varieties seemed less affected last year. Pink Ping Pong and Rostova (Sunset's Red Horizon) did not have as many nymphs on them as the other varieties in my garden. They also didn't show nearly as much of the yellow twiggy new growth.

I too am interested in the experiences of others with these nasty little buggers. I've been thinking of starting a separate post just for that purpose, but maybe we should just use one?

Please post with what you see as the season goes on as well as what you might try as far as treatment goes.
Good luck, Kurt

Here is a link to the Califronia-specific article mentioned above.

Here is a link that might be useful: California Psyllid Article

Here is another link, great photos of eggs, nymphs and adults.

Here is a link that might be useful: Another psyllid link, great photos

LOL, yes, those are the very articles that instilled panic in me yesterday. They paint a very grave picture!! I am figuring that these things are probably the reason my big beef tomatoes haven't seemed to get any bigger for about a month now. Maybe also why my Matt's Wild Cherry has so many yellow stems around the bottom and has very little fruit set. I thought everything was going great :( I think I'll visit a nursery and ask for some advice for treatment. I will let you all know how it goes...

"THEY'RE BAAAAACK! I'm hoping that they won't be as damaging this year, since they showed up much later in the season. My plants are about 5' tall, where as last year they were only 1' tall when the psyllids appeared."

Kurt, maybe it won't be so bad for either of us. My plants are big too and have fruit on them that looks like it will be pretty good. Stay positive :)

-Acacia