have very tiny white bugs on my indoor herbs. I think they were in the potting soil because they only appeared after I transplanted my seedlings. Could these be cyclamen mites? Here is a link to some photos. http://picasaweb.google.com/MFusco/Bugs Here is a link that might be useful: Photos of the bugs

Very hot weather will cause blossom drop; see the FAQ linked at the end of the post. There is a natural joint in the stem about a centimeter from the blossom: that's where the stem snaps easily when you pick a tomato, and it's where the stem will break by itself when a blossom is not pollinated (as well as some other circumstances). The small black-ish bugs may have been aphids, sucking insects which feast on plant sap. They come in different colors (IIRC, the ones which like tomatoes are black, white, green, and pinkish?). Some have wings, but most don't; you will see different ages/sizes together. A few shouldn't be a problem, but they breed incredibly fast, so you did the right thing to spray with insecticidal soap. Some people just squish them. Try to keep the plants consistently moist -- but don't overwater. *lol* -- no one ever promised life would be easy.... Here is a link that might be useful: http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/tomato/2000083030027695.html

Thank you for your reply. Did a few google searches and the fungus looks like residue caused by a number of pests. So area will be treated with an insecticide before new plants go in. Black bugs may have been there to take advantage of the residue but the tree, cuttings, fungus and bugs are all gone now. Wanted to check as there is still another tree - possibly a crab apple tree (produces ornamental fruit) - that was always bigger and stronger that doesn't seem to be affected but is attracting the local ants for some reason.

I'm comfortable calling them root aphids. The symptoms seem to fit and they do seem to look right (at least in person). I've already discarded both plants and will have to keep an eye on the other ones that were nearby. We used a commercial potting mix, but I can't remember which one- it was something different than normal and the bag got discarded. I think there must have been contamination of the soil at some point, because the 2 plants were definitely thriving before we repotted. I suppose it's possible that they had a small infestation and then the stress of being repotted allowed the aphids to get the upper hand...but I tend to believe it was the soil, since it was also contaminated with fungus spores. Thanks for the help