Since treating the soil this year I have had none of the normal bugs that we usually see on tomatoes. However I have one now that I am not familiar with and have not had before. Anyone know what this critter is? Not a very good pic but had to dig him out of the tomato and take the pic before I squished him. They are about half an inch long with two parts to the body and hard shelled. ( photo / image / picture from mart's Garden )
It looks like a Flea Beetle to me Mart. These insects can be hard to spot but are, perhaps, the most easily recognised pest of tomato plants due to the characteristic damage that they cause. They create copious amounts of small holes in the leaves and fruits. Flea beetles can appear in the garden twice in a year - usually around April and July. They are difficult to control as they have a habit of 'hopping' away if disturbed, making contact insecticides a bit 'hit and miss.' You might consider planting some "trap crops" such as radish which may help lure the flea beetles away from your treasured tomatoes. So long as the radish isn't in flower (as the insecticide will harm the beneficial, pollinating insects) you can use a systemic insecticide. However this will make the radish crop inedible. With this in mind, remember to label it clearly to prevent human anyone picking it and eating it.
Should have put this in another topic I know but I thought more tomato people read this one. Its not a June bug I am well familiar with them and they have a single lobed body. But they are about the same size only black instead of brown. Flea beetles I have heard of but don`t know what they look like. This is a ground insect that eats only the end of the tomato away from the stem when it starts to get ripe. Doesn`t eat green ones or leaves. I have never seen it move other than dig deeper into the tomato if you try to get it out. If you get it out of the tomato it just sits there. I am stumped on this one.
I can't see it clear because of the blue background but it looks similar to ones that make holes in the tops of some my tomatoes. I think it might be what makes holes in the leaves of the eggplant, too. I don't know what they are called. They do hide in the dirt or scurry under the mulch. I'll look in my insect book and see if I can find it. dooley
I looked in my Rodale's Garden book and the one I could find was closest to your picture is the flea beetle that Eileen mentioned.I think the one I have is called a soldier's bug and it says it eats bad bugs so I'll leave it be. The book says if you add parasitic nemetodes to your soil it should kill larva for the flea beetles. For severe infestations spray with neem, pyrethrins or rotenone. I don't spray my vegetables with anything. I'd start picking them if I could catch them or spray with water to loosen them and make them leave. dooley
Even though they look similar, this has got to be a different bug. What I read said that flea beetles are 1/4 in. or smaller. This bug is 1/2 in. or larger, more the size of an adult june bug, eats no leaves, but makes a hole in the bottom of my tomatoes the size of a half dollar and still keeps on eating. Doesn`t eat the top, only the bottom where it ripens first, and doesn`t eat green ones.
Mmmm OK there are a couple of other pests your beetles may be Mart. According to what I've read they could be either Stink Bugs or Potato beetles but neither look quite right to me. If they don't appear to be either of these inscts then I'd recommend that you catch some and take them to a botanic gardens or somewhere similar to get a positive ID. Do let us know if your discover just what they are won't you?
No, isn`t either one of those. I know them well. This bug is solid black. May have to take one to the extension service and see if they know. Thats about all we have here unless I drive to Dallas and I ain`t doing that. Thanks everyone ! I will track it down and find out.
