Tiny Black Bugs With Wings on My Tomato Plants

Identification

• Tomatoes are prone to infestation from melon thrips, western and eastern flower thrips and tobacco thrips. The tiny yellow, brown or black insects are about 1/20 inch long with narrow, fringed wings. Insect larvae resemble the shape of the adults but are wingless.

Damage

• The pests damage all parts of tomato plants. Foliage becomes bronzed and silvered. Damage to blossoms from thrips results in blossom drop and deformed fruit. The insects insert their eggs in the tomatoes. Affected fruit displays dimples and white areas. Thrips can also transmit the tomato spotted wilt virus, TSWV, to tomatoes.

Control

• Use predatory insects like predaceous mites and pirate bugs as a biological control option for thrips. Sticky traps often help capture adult thrips. Recommended insecticides include neem oil, azadirachtin and narrow range oil.