What's Eating My Tomato Leaves?

mapspringer 4/23/2015, 9:56 am

I put 8 healthy tomato plants in my MM last week, and within a few days noticed tiny holes covering the leaves of every plant. Upon further review I discovered what I presume is the culprit. Teeny tiny black bugs. Not tons of them, but a few on each plant. When approached with a fingertip, they fly off. It's almost like they're little veggie fleas! I've not seen this in the last 3 years of growing. Sorry no pictures, but it's just as I've described.
Has anyone else seen this? I'm not sure how best to go about resolving the issue.

yolos 4/23/2015, 10:07 am

Sounds exactly like flea beetles. They attack my eggplants every year at this time. I am not sure they go after tomato leaves though.

**Turan** 4/23/2015, 10:58 am

It does sound like flea beetles. I have heard vacuuming works pretty well if it is too late to put tulle over them.

Here is a good thread on dealing with them ~ https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t15862-flea-beetles?highlight=flea+beetles

mapspringer 4/23/2015, 11:32 am

Thanks for the discussion link, Turan! I do have some spinosad, and still have garlic from 2014 crop, so those are considerations. I think I'll just watch and hope that the growth rate of the plants is greater than the rate of destruction! If not, action will be taken. Thanks for the replies, all!

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What's Eating My Tomato Leaves?

What's Eating My Tomato Leaves?

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