If black bugs turn your tomato plant ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) into their one - stop snack bar and nurseries , do n’t despair . * * Aphids * * and * * potato flea beetles * * are coarse on tomatoes , specially during tender weather . speedy designation and elimination of the quickly reproducing insect proceed the tomatoes at their better .
Step 1
Black , pear tree - shapedaphidsfeed in colonies along the stems and on the succulent newfangled foliage * pierce the plant and draining sap with hollow , acute oral cavity parts . Infested tomatoes have wilted , yellowing leaves coated with the insect ’s glutinous waste . This honeydew attract sugar - eff ants and sooty cast spore that shoot into patches of greasy , black fungus . Potato flea beetleschew tiny , round holes the leaves , bud and blooms . They ’re most dangerous on seedling tomato . Using tenacious hind branch that enable them to jump off like flea , they often move to tomatoes from nearby sens .
The Ant Factor
Ants frequently target aphid - infested tomato and harvesting honeydew melon by stroke the insects ' abdomens to stir its release . They also crowd aphids from overcrowded root word and leaves to uninfested , sap - racy ones . To protect the honeydew , they attackladybugs , lacewingsorAphidius waspsthat raven on the aphids . Aphid control start with ant evacuation . Place enwrap , pelf - basedboric - acid baitsalong the ant trails under the tomatoes . Foraging ants collect the bait and bear it to their nests , where the lento acting boric acid wipes out the colonies over several days . * Hide the gently toxic come-on under leaves where they wo n’t tempt children or pets . *
Natural Aphid Control
To dispatch an early aphid plague , pose the hose sprayer attachment on sharp spray or jet andrinse the tomatoesthoroughly , hitting the bottom of the leave of absence and all the base . rinse early in the daytime permit the industrial plant dry quickly , minimizing the hazard of fungal infection . After the ants are gone , entice aphid predators back by institute directly - faced , shoal - throatedflowersnear the tomatoes . The adults bung on their ambrosia and pollen . proficient choice aresweet alyssum(Lobularia maritima ) , which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture flora hardiness zone 5 through 9 , andannual cosmos(Cosmos spp . ) . Curb cosmos ' reseeding habit by removing its old flowers before they sic seed .
Step 2
Chemical Aphid Control
stifle large aphid colony with organic , ready - to - useinsecticidal soap . After dry , it does n’t harm their piranha . During serene , dry weather with no rain in the 24 - time of day forecast and a temperature below 90 degrees Fahrenheit , urine the tomatoes well . Spray until the soap drips from all their surfaces . Repeat hebdomadally , or as often as the manufacturer advise , until the aphids are gone . Dress in protective wear , include a long - sleeved shirt , farseeing pants , safety looking glass , waterproofed gloves and a respiratory maskand follow the label ’s instructions when working with any insect powder .
Flea Beetle Control
To discourage flea mallet attempt , maintain aweed - gratuitous zonearound your tomatoes . Hoe on a regular basis around the plant life to ruin their soilborne eggs and larvae . industrial plant - basedpyrethrin insecticidekills the grownup beetles on contact . When their leaves are ironical and the temperature is below 90 F , spray the love apple until they drop . apparel in protective habiliment and work in early morning or late eventide , when bee are n’t pollinating . Repeat every one or two weeks as needed to control the pests . * Use pyrethrin as a last resort , because it also belt down flea beetle vulture . *
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