What Are the Tiny Yellowish Jumping Bugs on My Tomato Plants?

Tiny, Yellowish, Jumping Bugs

• You are likely looking at garden fleahoppers when your tomato plant is infested with tiny, yellowish, jumping bugs. They relish tomatoes, as do many other garden pests. They are dark in color, but have a tarnished appearance that gives them a yellowish hue. They jump from place to place, and seem to disappear when disturbed. They might be confused with the flea beetle, which is another common tomato pest, but can be differentiated by their tarnished shells and the absence of chewed holes in the leaves of the plant.

Fleahopper Life Cycle

• The fleahopper creates tiny punctures in the fleshy leaves and stems of the plant with its mouthparts. Female fleahoppers lay eggs inside the punctures, where they remain for the winter in colder climates. The adults overwinter in warmer climates. When the eggs hatch, the nymphs are born, green and small. They go through five stages of molt before reaching adulthood, and the process can take anywhere from 11 to 41 days depending on the climate. Fleahoppers can produce five generations in a single growing season.

Damage

• Fleahopper damage to the wide variety of plants on which they feed, including tomatoes, includes a pale spotting and noticeable stippling of the leaves. This stippling is especially damaging on crops grown for their leaves, like lettuce, cabbage or different herb varieties. The nymph and adult stage of fleahopper cause the same damage to the plants.

Control

• These tiny bugs are relatively easy to control with any number of commercial insecticides approved for use on edibles. If you would prefer to take a more organic approach to your garden, try simply removing the bugs manually. Achieve this by very gently cutting away the affected part of the plant. Move carefully so as not to disturb the fleahoppers. Place the removed piece of the plant into a plastic bag, seal and dispose of the bag.