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Growing Tomatoes

? about tomato plant pest

14 years ago

Please I need help.

I recently notice some small pinkish bugs lying around the underside of some tomato plant leaves. They are very small (won't show well on a picture), have 2 antennae, many legs, and prominant belly. I squashed one and there were some pinkish liquid in them.

So far, I don't see any damages on the plants. Is this something I need to worry about?

I also notice ants on some other tomato plants. Do they do any damage?

Thank you for any advice in advance.

Erik

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Comments (5)

missingtheobvious
14 years ago
Some of the aphids who like tomatoes are pink. Do they look like the second photo at this link?

Here is a link that might be useful: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/foltz/eny3005/lab1/homoptera/Aphidid.htm
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long-islander
Original Author
14 years ago
I don't think their legs are that long, and I don't remember seeing a stink at their tail end. But I'll double check. Thanks missingtheobvious.

Erik
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Hi, I have no clue what the bug is. If you could get a pic. That would be great. I do suggest re-posting what you wrote over on the Tomato forum since this one does not get a lot of traffic. Some one there might have an idea. If no one does there, you could visit another site, tomato ville dot com. (GW does not allow writing their name out properly.) Remy Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Forum
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digdirt2
14 years ago
Aphids is the most likely, especially if you are also seeing ants. But if there is no damage to the plants they usually aren't a big concern. You can wash them off the plants with just a spray of water.

Dave
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missingtheobvious
14 years ago
Erik, I can't give you good pictures or drawings, but from what I've read, a group of aphids usually includes different shapes and sizes. There may also be winged and wingless together in the same group.

They give birth to live young, so it makes sense that various sizes are found together.

In other words, aphids are confusing, and there are enough different types that no one is interested in providing exhaustive photos/drawings of each particular kind. 8-(
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tn_veggie_gardner
14 years ago
Aphids *shiver* Buy ladybugs off the Internet, immediately! =)
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