I tried to get close enough. It looked like a big fly with white wings, but had like big eyes and was about an inch long. Black mainly but with white wings.

Thanks day by day! I'll have to go out and be sure it's not killing my pipevine swallowtail caterpillars, which are the one type of caterpillar that are usually immune from predators. I've only had one predator that killed/ate them, and it was another, different type of predatory stink bug - I hope they're okay, because I don't have that much room left in my cages. Sherry

I just dug those tomato plants out and buried them in the garden, as the only thing I could think of: a mix of soapy water and jojoba oil didn't harm the bugs at all and I didn't seem to be able to win the fight. There where SO many bugs on these huge and healthy plants. I collected a few adult bugs and nymphs and sprayed them with my soap and oil mix but they didn't mind it at all and kept running around after they had cleaned the spray off their bodies. Obviously the adults survived when I trashed the plants as they can fly and now I found them all over my new little tomato plants in the garden, when they are only supposed to become a pest late in the season and it's just february... So I am starting the fight early this year and would appreciate any ideas. For now I am spraying the plants twice a week with a stronger solution of soapy water. I use 1Tbsp Dr. Bronners to a quart of water and rinse it off after 30mins. Apparently soapy water kills Lysus bug nymphs, so contrary to what I observed last year, it should kill the tomato bug nymphs too. That's why I'm trying a stronger solution this time and hope for it to kill the younger nymphs? Although it makes me feel like a weirdo I also vacuum those plants to get the adults. From what I read they lay their eggs into the plant tissue, so I can't try and get those. Any other suggestions? I would love to eat at least a few tomatoes this year! Olga

I think its white fly. I have had both. Thrips tend to hide in the flowers and buds that's what makes them so hard to kill. They bred in the ground under the rose and can also swarm. If they are thrips its not any kind I have ever seen. White fly on the other hand doesn't care where they land or live and Malathion will take care of them. If it was me I would rather have white fly. Also I have found that malathion will not kill thrips. Soil drench with systemic or systemic granules will work. The rose takes it into the canes etc. Thrips prefer light colored roses. To find thrips take a rose that is just beginning to open and knock it on a piece of white paper if you have thrips you will see very small little brownish critters. Like a small pencil mark. I still think its white fly.