They are 'good guys'.......the eggs of some insect eating beneficial like lace wing (I'm drawing a blank here and I remember answering that question over on the pest forum some time ago). The reason they are on stalks is to protect the newly hatched youngsters from eating each other. LOL.

It does sound like you have a lot of them! I haven't seen all that many on my plants this year - I guess they're all hanging out in your yard :-) is that normal for a balcony container? Yes and no. I've been growing all my plants in containers for 18 years, and I have seen it like you describe several times, but it does not happen every year. When it does happen, it's because I also have an out of control aphid problem, and the ladybugs show up and start munching away. Sometimes I don't notice the aphids initially, because they're hidden or they're the same colour as the plant. But when I see tons of ladybug larvae or pupae, I always find signs the aphids were/are there as well. Could you describe the colour and shape of the eggs you are seeing? Yellow and oval, or brown and round? BP

A species of Milkweed bug. Probably passing through looking for milkweed seeds to pierce and consume. Here is a link that might be useful: Milkweed Bug Information

thanks for your comments, they are all indeterminate. i have 5 different kinds; this one in particular is a 'mortgage lifter'. i read up on heirlooms, they all seem to be indeterminate and everything i read indicates that pinching the suckers is better for the fruit formation and results in better sized tomatoes. i went ahead and pulled them off, i don't want the plant getting out of hand and becoming unwieldy. i am sure i will have more and post a picture then. thanks again for your comments.