What to do if there are white midges on tomatoes and how to deal with them: the most effective methods

Tomato beds often attract pests. The most dangerous of them is considered to be the whitefly - it sucks the juice of the plant, which leads to its drying out and death. Both adult moths and larvae are pests.

What to do if there are white midges on tomatoes, how to deal with them, and what measures can be taken to protect the crop from pests - you will learn all this from our article.

Why white midge appears on tomatoes and how to get rid of it

Whiteflies often attack tomatoes grown in greenhouses or greenhouses. Insects appear when it rains frequently. The moth looks like an ordinary midge, only white. The pest most often appears in mid-summer under favorable conditions - high humidity and high air temperatures.

A gardener may not immediately recognize that pests have appeared on his site - whiteflies choose to live on the lower leaves of a plant or hide on their insides.

You can save the entire crop from white midges if there are only moths on the plants without larvae. The fight against small pests needs to be approached comprehensively.

The most common ways are:

• fumigation;
• chemical treatment;
• biological drugs;
• bait.

How to detect the presence of whiteflies

The insect has an original appearance, so it is simply impossible to confuse it with others:

• The body is light green, and the wings are milky white.
• Superficially it resembles a moth, but has a more elongated body, 1-3 mm long.
• Whitefly larvae may have a yellowish or gray tint, and their mobility depends on the period of the life cycle.

This is what a whitefly looks like Source wp.com

Tomatoes affected by whitefly Source stopklopu.com

Signs of infection

It is easy to recognize plant damage by the following external signs:

• yellowing and curling of leaves;
• uneven ripening of fruits;
• discoloration of the internal tissues of tomatoes;
• formation of plaque on the upper leaves;
• presence of insects on the inside of the leaf;
• when you touch the plant, a cloud of midges rises.

What kind of pests could these be?

Many insects can parasitize nightshades. There are two types of midges living on tomatoes: some pests are black in color and are constantly on the move, not inhabiting the plant. Other midges are white and settle on the leaves of seedlings.

The most dangerous pest is the greenhouse whitefly. Her body size is 3 mm. The insect prefers to inhabit the inside of the lower leaves of seedlings, where it lays eggs.

Whiteflies carry viral diseases - leaf curl, chlorosis and jaundice. If measures are not taken in time, this may affect the growth, flowering of the plant, its leaves and fruits.

The moths themselves are not so dangerous - they can be easily eliminated using folk or chemical means. However, it is not so easy to deal with insect larvae - they have protection in the form of a special coating, which reduces the effectiveness of the drugs. In addition, if you use the same products, insects can develop immunity to them.

What harm can they do?

White midges are the most dangerous pests of nightshades. Despite their small size, the damage they cause can be colossal. As soon as midges or their larvae attach to the plant, they begin to consume its sap. Because of this, the seedlings begin to experience a lack of nutrients, which affects their fruits. As a result, the green mass of the plant dries out and falls off, and the fruits wrinkle.

The vital activity of small midges leads to the formation of plaque on the top of the leaf, which can cause it to curl. At first it has a transparent color, which later turns black, indicating the formation of sooty fungi. Parasites appear from insect secretions. They cover the plant stem and fruits.

Preventive measures to prevent the appearance of whiteflies on tomatoes

To prevent whiteflies from appearing in a greenhouse with tomatoes, you must follow certain rules. Their strict implementation will help avoid pest attacks and also guarantee a good harvest. It is easier to prevent any problem than to fix it later.

• The greenhouse should be cleaned and disinfected every fall and/or spring.
• Ensure adequate ventilation in the greenhouse.
• Carry out preventive measures and use special protective equipment.

By following all the recommendations and rules for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, you don’t have to worry about this malicious pest. But if whiteflies appear on tomatoes, you should not postpone treatment until later, since in this case the days count. As a result of delay, plants lose immunity, which subsequently negatively affects the harvest.

Types of insect control

It is important to note that not all control methods are effective at all stages of insect development. The plaque that forms on the leaves as a result of the vital activity of midges is a barrier against chemical and biological agents. Therefore, to quickly destroy pests, you need to use an integrated approach.

Chemical control methods

Manufacturers annually produce a large number of drugs against pests. Before purchasing the product, you need to study the instructions in order to properly treat the plant. Some drugs only need to be sprayed once, others need to be used regularly.

It is important to choose a drug suitable for a certain stage of insect development. So, moth repellents will not help get rid of larvae and pupae. Spraying is ineffective in controlling adults; they can fly from plant to plant.

Types of chemicals against whiteflies:

• systemic insecticides - the drug penetrates the plant sap and poisons insects;
• contact insecticides - act when the pest comes into direct contact with the treated plant.

Important! Systemic drugs should not be used during the harvest period. The last treatment should be no later than 25-30 days before harvesting the fruits.

The most effective drugs against white midges are:

• "Pegasus";
• "Fufanon";
• "Confidor Extra";
• "Aktara";
• "Mospilan";
• "Decis-pro";
• "Phosbecide";
• "Aktellik".

Processing rules

So:

1. The procedure is carried out on a warm, windless day.
2. Chemicals are applied using a spray bottle.
3. After treatment, you need to bring the plants into the shade or place a canopy over them to avoid burns.
4. Alternate medications regularly.
5. Use a product suitable for the specific stage of insect development.

Important! Do not immediately use strong chemicals; toxic compounds can accumulate in the soil and poison the plants.

Biological drugs

The essence of biological agents is the use of living microorganisms that can resist the action of pests. In the case of whiteflies, manufacturers produce preparations with insects that can eat white midge larvae.

A cardboard with a biological product is hung on tomato bushes. After some time, microorganisms begin to spread throughout the plant, destroying whitefly larvae and pupae.

Fitoverm is considered the most effective biological preparation; after its use, you can harvest within two days. The product contains compounds that quickly decompose in the soil; they do not harm the plant.

Traditional proven methods

Experienced summer residents note that folk remedies can effectively combat pests without developing resistance in them.

These methods include:

1. Cold. Moths do not like low temperatures, so you need to take the seedlings out into the fresh air from time to time. The method is suitable only for cold-resistant varieties; the pest will die only when the temperature drops to +10C.
2. Insect traps. Glue baits, which can be made at home, are especially effective - a sheet of plywood is painted yellow and generously smeared with glue, Vaseline, oil or honey. The bait is placed near the affected plants. You can also hang regular adhesive fly tape.
3. Infusion of yarrow. Pour 1 kg of plant leaves into a bucket of water and leave for two days in a warm place. Then the infusion is filtered. It is used for spraying. The procedure is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 7 days.
4. Dandelion decoction - pour 1 kg of fresh flowers into 1 bucket of water, add 1 tbsp. washing powder. The mixture is infused for a day, then filtered. Suitable for processing bushes and soil.
5. Soap products - used when there are large numbers of insects, as well as in cases where the use of chemicals is undesirable. To treat the leaves, you can use laundry soap - grind 1 bar and dilute it in water in a ratio of 1:6. Before applying to the leaves, you need to whip up the foam; you can also spray the bushes with the solution. The product does not require rinsing.
6. Garlic infusion - chop 10 cloves and add 5 liters of water, leave to infuse overnight in a warm place. Before use, the infusion must be filtered.
7. Water - used to wipe the leaves. Effective in the fight against adult insects.

Fumigation of greenhouses

The procedure should be carried out twice a year - before planting seedlings and after harvesting. Before fumigation, you need to close the windows and doors, and also plug all the cracks.

Sulfur candles can be used for fumigation, but they are only suitable if the room is located away from residential buildings. Before carrying out the procedure, you need to remove all tomatoes from the greenhouse.

You can use smoke bombs with insecticides in those greenhouses that are located near your home. In this case, you can leave the seedlings in the greenhouse. The product will help kill not only adults, but also larvae, and will also protect against various diseases.

The smoke control method can be carried out using tobacco. You need to put a sheet of iron on the ground, on top of which you place newspaper, wood chips and tobacco. Before the procedure, you need to lubricate the glass of the greenhouse with Vaseline. After the fire is lit, the disturbed insects will rush to the windows and stick to them.

What herbs will save tomatoes?

By sowing the right herbs in an area with tomato beds, you can forget about pests forever. These herbs include dill - it attracts insects that feed on midges. It can be planted between the beds.

Experienced summer residents often plant tobacco along the perimeter of the site. Although this plant will not repel whiteflies, it will bear the brunt of the attack. Most of the insects will begin to settle in the tobacco bushes, which will give the vegetable grower time to begin pest control.

Mechanical methods

The fight against whiteflies in a greenhouse is also carried out using light and natural enemies of midges. You can also catch adults using a vacuum cleaner.

Whiteflies, like other moths, are attracted to light. One person enters the greenhouse and begins to shake the bushes, while the other stands at the exit and holds a blowtorch in his hands. This procedure can be carried out every 2-3 days.

During the day, you can spread pieces of foil between the beds. The sun's rays will reflect off the foil and fall on the lower leaves of the tomatoes where the insects live.

The enemies of white midges are ladybugs and lacewings. If you attract these insects to the area, you can quickly eliminate the problem. You can also populate the greenhouse with pupae of the encarsia wasp and the macrolophus bug.

Biological countermeasures

Another no less effective, but completely environmentally friendly way to combat it is the use of other insects - competitors. By planting just a few representatives of one species or another, you can completely disrupt the pest plantation without the risk of harming the plantings. Below are some of the most inveterate enemies.

A bug eating whiteflies Source mrdachnik.com

Macrolophus caliginosus is a voracious predator bug that feeds on many insect pests. It is used as one of the highest quality and proven methods of combating aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and tomato leafminer moths. It is advisable to populate them every 2 weeks for a month. After this, the insects will take root and begin to independently maintain their population.

The most beautiful defender of your greenhouse Source fotokto.ru

The ladybug is one of the main enemies of many insect pests in garden areas. It feeds on whiteflies, aphids, scale insects, small caterpillars, spider mites, Colorado potato beetle larvae and many enemies of the gardener.

A parasitic insect that destroys pest larvae Source newogorod.ru

Encarzia is one of the most effective opponents of our pest. Belongs to the category of parasitic parasitic parasites, the larva of which pupates in the host's shell. About a week before planting the seedlings, place 3-4 bags of the parasite in the greenhouse. The females will independently find the whitefly and lay their embryos in its body, which will destroy their host.

Interesting! Common tansy planted in a greenhouse nearby provides good protection against whiteflies.

Yellow tansy is a gardener's friend Source fs3.fotoload.ru

The nuances of getting rid of midges

The conditions for growing tomatoes in open ground and in a greenhouse are significantly different. Midges can appear in both closed and open beds. When dealing with pests, it is important to take into account some features.

In the open ground

Whitefly can also attack seedlings grown in open ground. Often, to preserve the harvest, summer residents use folk remedies. These include herbs, soap, garlic or ash. Using ammonia is also effective - dilute 50 ml of the product in a bucket of water.

You can add a little liquid soap to the solution. The product is used for spraying, the procedure is carried out once every 3 days until the pest is completely destroyed.

How to get rid of midges on tomatoes in a greenhouse

To destroy whiteflies in a greenhouse, you can use not only insecticides, but also conventional fumigators and spirals. Before turning on the device, you need to close the windows and doors. It is better to leave the premises during this period. Sticky anti-fly tapes can be hung throughout the greenhouse.

It is known that midges do not like the cold, so at night you can open the windows for ventilation.

After treating plants with chemicals, you need to create shade. To do this, you can cover the roof of the greenhouse with a dark, thick fabric.

Compost should not be stored indoors as it attracts insects. It is best to store it in a box on the site, away from greenhouses and greenhouses.

To treat plants indoors, you can use bleach - dilute 0.5 kg of the substance in 12 liters of water, leave for 2-3 hours. The product is used for spraying on beds.

To combat midges, you can use a mixture of dry tobacco and ash. The components are mixed and used to treat the soil.

Seedling protection

You can protect seedlings from whiteflies by pre-planting the soil with insecticides. It is also important to keep a distance when planting plants, since insects love dense beds due to impaired air circulation and moisture evaporation.

Tomatoes cannot be planted in the same place year after year. Moth larvae may be in the soil, so you need to follow the planting pattern - tomatoes can be returned to their original bed only after 3-4 seasons.

Terms and rules for processing plants in an open area

Chemicals will help treat tomatoes against whiteflies. The eggs do not lose their viability, so spraying is repeated every one to two weeks. Chemical solutions are changed as insects adapt to the poisons. For complete destruction, it is necessary to comply with the terms and rules for processing plants.

Agrochemistry

All drugs are diluted in warm water. Before use, study the instructions.

Name	Dosage	Mode of application	Processing times
Fitoverm	4-8 ml per 1 l	Spray in dry, windless weather	every 10 days
Aktara	1 g per 10 liters of water	Spray in the morning and evening in calm, dry weather.	every 7 - 14 days
Bioraid	10 ml per 5 l	Sprayed	2 – 3 times every 7 days
Verticillin G	25 ml per 1 l	Sprayed	1 time, repeat every other week
Decis Lux and Profi	1-2 ml per 2 l	Processed	2 times, repeat after 7 days
Karate Zeon	2 ml per 2 l	Processed	3-4 times every three days
Match	3-5 g per 10 l	Sprayed	1 time, can be repeated in a week
Fufanon	1 ml per 1 l	Sprayed	once

Important! In order not to poison the soil and the future harvest with chemicals, you must follow the rules for planting tomato seedlings.

1. Fertilize the soil with wood ash.
2. Before planting, inspect the seedlings.
3. Plant at a distance of 50 cm from each other.
4. Inspect the seedlings after 7 - 12 days.
5. Conduct weed control in a timely manner, especially woodlice, sowweed and nettle.
6. Carry out root treatment, hilling.

Processing seedlings

To prevent and protect the plant from whitefly, it is necessary to inspect and treat the seedlings.

1. Onion infusion - chop the onion, 10 g of onion pulp is diluted with 1 liter of water. Leave for 5 hours, filter, water the soil.
2. Spray with infusions with strong odors of garlic, orange, lemon.
3. Coca-Cola is used as a fertilizer because of the minerals it contains, phosphoric acid and sugar. Add no more than 2 tbsp per 10 liters of water. l. drink Water the tomatoes right to the root. When sprayed, the insect will disappear due to the acidic environment.

Protection of bushes during flowering and fruiting

Do not use chemicals during flowering and fruiting of bushes and plants. It is impossible to wash the chemicals off the fruit. The use of poisons can poison beneficial insects: ladybugs, wasps, bees.

Natural ingredients will help protect against pests: fragrant infusions and soap solutions.

During flowering, you cannot prune bushes or shape tree crowns. Fertilizing with potassium humate will help protect against diseases and increase yield. The feeding process is divided into two times: during flowering and the second, when the formation of fruits and berries begins.

Boric acid is used to kill pests and feed fruit-bearing flora. Dissolve 10 g of powder in 10 liters of water. Spray in two stages: at the beginning of flowering and after its completion. Fertilizing is done once at the beginning of flowering, watered with a solution diluted in water 10 liters per 20 g of powder.

Autumn disinfestation

All measures for the prevention and destruction of whiteflies must be completed before the first sustained frost.

1. Deep digging of soil mixed with wood ash in mid-autumn will be effective against pests that can easily tolerate cold weather.
2. All plant remains, tops, weeds, and foliage are burned.
3. Greenhouses are cleaned and disinfected.
4. The top 10 cm layer of soil is changed or dug up. Disinfect with insecticidal preparations.
5. Wooden floors are whitened with slaked lime in 500 g - 10 liters of water or painted.
6. Kerosene cleans metal supports from moss and mold.
7. The remaining auxiliary devices - rods, ropes - are treated with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
8. Glass and frames are cleaned with a brush and soapy water, from top to bottom.
9. In some cases, you can use a bleach solution.

Pest prevention

The white midge is an insect that is difficult to get rid of. You can fight it for a long time, which will negatively affect seedlings and harvests. The use of chemicals is not always appropriate, especially if the gardener wants to get an environmentally friendly product. It is better to prevent a problem from occurring than to try to fix it later.

Preventive measures:

1. Ventilate the greenhouse regularly even in winter.
2. Disinfect structures.
3. Keep the area clean - remove plant debris and weeds in a timely manner.
4. Constantly dig up the ground.
5. Do not store compost in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

How to prevent re-infection?

To prevent re-infection, it is necessary to carry out preventive work in the spring and autumn.

1. Provide an alkaline soil environment by adding ash and slaked lime.
2. Clean the greenhouses and fumigate them with tobacco smoke.
3. In winter, it is necessary to freeze the greenhouse.
4. Do not leave weeds, garbage, or waste on the site over the winter.
5. Paint fences, trim and whitewash trees.

In conclusion, to summarize, if you follow the conditions for keeping areas and greenhouses clean, monitor the condition of the seedlings, and carry out preventive work on time, then not a single pest will be afraid, especially the whitefly.

How to fight whiteflies on tomatoes: what to poison and how to process tomatoes in a greenhouse, read more in this article.

There are midges in the seedlings, what to do?

Midges feel great where it’s warm, where leftover food is rotting in a garbage bag, pieces of fruit are lying around out of sight, or compote is turning sour in a cup. But, if everywhere is clean and dry, midges have to look for a place where they can find food and lay eggs.

They will always find the conditions necessary for their nutrition and reproduction on the surface of a waterlogged soil substrate in a box with seedlings. Therefore, the first thing that needs to be done to deprive insects of their breeding places is to dry the soil under the plants.

Do not water the seedlings until the top layer of soil dries out. If it happens that after watering the earthen ball becomes too wet, you need to try to dry it quickly, for example, by placing pots with seedlings over heat sources. You have to be careful not to cook the plants.

If excess water drains into the lower pan, the liquid will need to be drained so that it does not rise through the bottom of the container to the upper part of the pot again. Then watering can be done through this pan by adding water into it.

Description of the signs of pests of tomatoes (tomatoes), how to fight

Tomato-sucking and gnawing insects that can settle on almost all parts of vegetables. The main ones include:

Medvedka

Deep passages appear in the soil through which these large pests move. A mole cricket gnaws at the base of a tomato stem. Plants damaged by these insects quickly wither and die.

Control measures

We treat the soil with Grom. When we find insect holes, pour an infusion of hot pepper into them. Pests also do not tolerate a solution of table vinegar (0.5 liters per 10 liters of water). We also pour it into the burrows where they live.

Wireworms

These pests are the larvae of click beetles. They damage the roots and often get into the stems of tomatoes. At the same time, the latter wither and die.

Fighting methods

3-4 days before planting the seedlings in the place intended for tomatoes, we bury 10-15 cm into the ground pieces of raw vegetables strung on sticks protruding from the soil. After a couple of days, we pull them out and destroy the larvae in them. When digging up the earth, we always collect these larvae. If the soil is acidic, we liming it, which helps reduce the number of these pests. We periodically treat the soil with Bazudin, which, mixed with sawdust or sand, is buried in the soil near the plants.

Whitefly

The larvae of these flying insects stick to the leaves, extracting the sap of the plant. Sometimes these pests almost completely cover the leaves, and affected tomatoes significantly reduce yield. Whiteflies carry sooty fungi that cover tomato leaves with a black coating. When infected with this fungus, the plant quickly dries out and dies.

Ways to fight

We treat vegetable plantings twice with Phosbecide. We spray tomatoes in the morning with a break of 3 weeks. We treat tomatoes with Confidor.

Gnawing cutworms

The caterpillars of these insects damage the tops and leaves.

How to fight

We remove weeds in a timely manner. We regularly collect pests by hand. We spray the plants with Arrow.

Colorado beetle

Tomatoes collect striped beetles, which lay orange eggs on the bottom of the leaf. The larvae hatch from them and gnaw the leaves of the plant. Pests cause great damage to tomatoes.

Fighting methods

We collect adult beetles, eggs, and larvae on vegetables by hand. We use Prestige insecticide for spraying. We carefully spray all the plants, not forgetting to treat the lower part of the foliage.

Slugs

These pests eat the foliage and penetrate into the tomato fruits. They are especially numerous in dense plantings of vegetables and on waterlogged soils.

Ways to fight

We destroy weeds near the tomatoes, pollinate the beds with slaked lime, ash, and tobacco dust. We loosen the soil and pollinate it with hot ground pepper and dry mustard (1 teaspoon per 1 sq. m.). Sprinkle metaldehyde granules around the tomatoes.

Spider mite

These small pests are located at the bottom of the leaf blade. A sign of their appearance is their webs themselves and the insects themselves.

How to fight

Spray the tomatoes with an infusion of chopped garlic, onion and dandelion. We take 100 grams of raw materials and pour 10 liters of water. Let the infusion for plants stand for 3-4 hours, filter and add 30 ml of liquid soap to it. We spray tomatoes with this product at any stage of their development. Treating tomatoes with Karbofos (60 grams per bucket of water) also gives good results. Consumption of the product is 1 liter per 10 square meters. m.

Now I’m absolutely sure that my family will have jars of green tomato jam in their bins (there are 5 recipes here), and there will simply be no shortage of ripe ones.

The main signs of the appearance of black midges

One of the signs that tomatoes have been attacked by aphids (small black midges) is wilting of the leaves. Many people decide that the plant does not have enough moisture and water it abundantly. If the pests appeared a long time ago, then dark spots appear on the stem, which over time turn into a dry brown crust.

Tomato leaves wither and curl

This signals that the plant needs to be carefully inspected. Most often, a small pest with wings can be found in the lower part or axils of leaves. With an inexperienced eye, aphids may not be immediately visible, so it is better to inspect during the day when the sun is shining brightly.

If aphids are not found on one of the wilting tomatoes, inspect all the plants. Even without seeing pests, it is better to carry out preventive treatment, this will ensure that undetected individuals will disappear.

Another sign of black midges appearing on tomatoes is a large number of ant trails near the garden bed. Ants protect aphids, because the sweet liquid secreted by pests is the best food for them.

Biological features and causes of appearance

Aleurodids are small homoptera mole-shaped insects, no more than 3 mm in length. The whitefly gets its name from its matte white wings. Growth from egg to adult takes 20 days.

The most common type is the greenhouse whitefly. It feeds on plant sap. The larvae appear on the inside of the leaves. An ideal habitat with high levels of humidity, frequent rain, and high air temperatures. Below +10°C, the vital activity of the insect stops, the larvae do not grow, and the eggs tolerate the cold calmly.

How to identify a parasite?

1. Plant growth slows down for no apparent reason.
2. A white coating appears on the leaves.
3. A plant infected with insect waste products turns black.
4. The leaves curl, change color, and fall off.
5. White midges fly over the plants; when shaken, the number of insects increases.
6. Translucent larvae appear on the inside of the leaves.

Why are they dangerous for tomato beds?

Damage to tomatoes is caused by both adult insects and larvae. By feeding on sap, they disrupt the nutrition of the plant itself. Their feces contain fungal spores that infect all nearby plantings.

The infected part becomes covered with a white sugar coating, turns black, and the plant dies. Whitefly carries viral diseases, contributes to the appearance of tomato mosaics, aspermia, chlorosis, fruit deformation, and leads to the death of tomatoes.

What is whitefly

Trialeurodes vaporariorum or the greenhouse whitefly is a flying insect that belongs to the genus Ileuroids. Externally, this pest looks like a small moth with a small yellow body (up to 1.5 mm in length) and four small white wings, covered with a powdery coating, which fold into one plane.

An adult female lives no more than a month, during which she is able to lay up to 130 eggs with an average size of 0.25 mm. The whitefly lays clutches on the reverse side of leaf blades, arranging them in concentric circles. Each of these circles can have up to 30 eggs. Initially their color is greenish with a yellow tint, gradually they darken and eventually become almost black.

The hatched larvae are flat, oval in shape, and light green in color. They go through 4 phases of development, growing during this time from 0.9 to 0.9 mm. In the first phase, the larvae are unusually mobile and voracious; they quickly move from leaf to leaf, from plant to plant, actively sucking cell sap from the leaf plates. During this period, they need abundant nutrition, after which a sticky secretion remains on the foliage - a product of their vital activity.

After entering the second phase, the larvae become motionless, but also eat a lot. In total, the first three phases of the larvae pass in about 2 weeks.

In phase 4, whitefly larvae are covered with a special waxy coating and become invulnerable to even the most powerful insecticides. This phase lasts up to 2 weeks, then adult flying individuals emerge from the larvae.

If greenhouses are heated in winter, then the whiteflies living in them can produce 4 generations over the entire calendar year. Favorable conditions for their reproduction: temperature around +22+26०С and humidity 61-75%.

Important! In the climatic conditions of the middle zone and other regions with similar winters, the whitefly cannot overwinter in the ground, but can wait out the cold in greenhouses or on indoor flowers.

Types and signs of parasitism

Small insects can cause irreparable damage to crops both outdoors and in the greenhouse. You should inspect the plants daily, paying especially close attention to young seedlings, which quickly die when attacked by midges of any variety.

On tomatoes, two similar species are most often found - white aphids and black aphids. They differ in color and body structure, but they cause equally strong damage. To determine the infestation and take action in time, the easiest way is to shake the tomato bush, then the midge will fly into the air.

White midges whiteflies

On the bottom of the leaf it is easy to notice small white flies - these are whiteflies. They have transparent wings, the body is less than 3 mm. These insects jump and fly well, so they quickly infect plantings.

Most often this pest appears in greenhouses, although it is also found in open plantings. Like other types of aphids, the whitefly sucks the juices from the plant, resulting in curling of the leaves, drying out of individual parts, falling flowers, or the absence of ovaries on tomatoes altogether. In addition, black or brown spots appear.

Black

Black midges on tomatoes are common and multiply incredibly quickly. Tomato aphids are a little different, as there are many varieties. Regardless of the presence of wings or size, the insect quickly destroys the plantings and the plants die.

Dark midges are much smaller, their body grows no more than 2 mm in length, and up to 5 generations of insects are born in one season. Aphids lay eggs for the winter in old bark, foliage, and other secluded places. At the same time, they are not afraid of frost. In the spring, larvae hatch from the clutch, develop quickly, and reproduce without fertilization at high speed.

Life cycle and distribution

Due to their rapid reproduction, midges can produce up to 5 generations in one season. Thanks to the ability of some species to fly, they easily move from one bush to another and so on throughout all tomato beds. The life cycle of whiteflies depends on the presence of ants nearby. At night, anthills provide shelter for pests. This is where they lay their eggs. White midges do not have good flight ability, but in case of danger they can quickly move to a more secluded place, where they accumulate in large numbers.

Insects lay eggs in the spring, when the ground has warmed up sufficiently. White midges breed on tomatoes in a greenhouse all year round. The larvae are born within a week after laying. Having found a secluded place, they pupate and within two weeks become invulnerable to chemicals and other treatments. After a while, adult individuals emerge from the cocoons and begin active reproduction. The full development cycle is 25 days, and the lifespan of one female is about 30 days. During her life she manages to lay about 140 eggs.

Whitefly butterfly

Small pests on peppers and cucumbers

Other vegetable crops, such as peppers and cucumbers, are also not immune to the appearance of aphid colonies. In most cases, this occurs due to waterlogging of the soil in cool weather. To prevent this from happening, it is better to refrain from watering on cool days.

Sometimes the leaves are strewn with cucumber pests, in which case the bush will wither

If an unpleasant neighborhood does appear on the plants, it is necessary to urgently begin to destroy the pests. To do this, use crushed garlic or tobacco leaves spread under the plants.

You can use an effective tool:

• juice from three lemons;
• 100 grams of liquid soap;
• 8 liters of water.

Combine these ingredients and immediately spray the cucumbers or peppers. Pay special attention to the soil - also thoroughly moisten it with the preparation.

What is the best way to kill midges on cucumbers and peppers?

It is better not to use chemical methods to kill midges on adult cucumbers and peppers - after all, after such exposure, eating vegetables is prohibited for a week or more.

Traditional methods are more gentle; you can serve the fruits the very next day after processing.

Signs of appearance in the garden plot

Finding out that midges have infected tomatoes is quite simple. Small black or white insects will fly around the bushes. In addition, there are other signs:

• defects will be clearly visible on the plants: the leaves will curl into tubes, become dry and covered with a white coating;
• the stem and shoots may turn yellow;
• the fruits will stop developing, the yield will be greatly reduced;
• ant trails will be visible, because these insects feed on the waste products of midges.

If at least one of the above signs appears, you need to immediately begin the fight against midges.

What kind of midges eat tomatoes?

Two species of midges colonize tomatoes. Some are black, they scurry, jump or fly from one plant to another. The second midges are white. The main part of them is hidden on the underside of the leaf, and flies into the air if you shake the plant.

Black midge

Another name for black midge is fungus gnat, tomato gnat or soil fly. The size of the body is 3-4 mm. Reproduction occurs in moist soil, on semi-decomposed organic remains. They like to lay eggs in places where fertilizer is applied in the form of an infusion of bird droppings or mullein.

The eggs are translucent and whitish in color. The larvae are worms from 3 to 8 mm long. Their body is white and their head is black. They live until pupation in the upper layer of soil. They pupate in the roots.

The larvae cause significant damage - they gnaw off the main part of the roots. If there are few pests, then the consequences of the damage are not noticeable: others quickly grow to replace the eaten roots. If conditions are favorable, midge reproduction increases and the damage becomes significant. The plant looks depressed, is stunted, and fruits are not produced.

In hot, dry weather, adults damage the growing point of tomatoes. Bacteria are often transferred from infected plants to healthy ones.

White midge

White midges are miniature whitefly butterflies. Their body size does not exceed 3 mm. The wings seem to be powdered with white dust. Eggs are laid on the underside of the leaf. The larvae are mobile at first, then they stick to one place and stay there until they transform into new butterflies.

Both midges and their larvae suck nutrients from the leaves. The upper surface of the leaves becomes covered with white dust, then turns black. The leaves dry out, the fruits also become covered with plaque and spoil.

If the temperature drops below 10°C, the life of whitefly butterflies stops. But low temperatures do not harm the eggs; their development cycle simply slows down. When the temperature rises, new butterflies will emerge from the larvae and repeat their life path.

The larvae overwinter on the remains of leaves in the top layer of soil.

Chemicals for protecting tomatoes

This method can be called the most effective and fastest-acting. But it has a huge disadvantage: danger to humans. Before using any product, it is important to carefully study the instructions for use, follow safety precautions and strictly adhere to the dosage recommendations for the product.

Special preparations for treatment:

• Pegasus. Belongs to the group of insectoaccaricides. Has a neuroparalytic effect. It has a low toxicity class and is practically safe for humans. The average cost is 120 rubles. Maximum number of treatments is 2. Can be used in combination with other drugs against flies on tomatoes.
• Phosbecide. Available in ampoules of 2 ml. Cost from 20 rubles per ml. Eliminates aphids and whiteflies, as well as other tomato pests. The drug has intestinal and systemic action. It is not allowed to mix with other products of chemical origin.
• Mospilan. 100 g of powder costs from 170 rubles. Low toxicity, combines well with various pesticides. Active even at high ambient temperatures.
• Fufanon. A liquid that is available in various dosages. 6.5 ml will cost 15 rubles. Dissolves quickly and does not pose a danger to plants.
• Confidor. Insecticide of contact-intestinal action. In addition to pest control, it provides resuscitation effects to plants. Effective even in hot weather. Retains its properties on crops for a long time. Resistant to washing off. Price from 40 rubles per 1 g.
• Aktara. Highly effective product. Resistant to heat and precipitation. The active substance is thiomethoxam. Protects for 1 month after application. Low application rate allows to reduce the number of treatments. 50 rubles per package.

If the black fly on tomatoes has multiplied greatly, then one treatment will not be enough. Many drugs act only on adults, but are not able to destroy eggs.

Chemicals for processing tomatoes

Methods of disposal

If whiteflies appear on tomato bushes or adjacent plants in a greenhouse, you should immediately use the following means and methods of protection:

Fumigation in a greenhouse. This procedure should be carried out at least twice a year. The best option is to use sulfur candles in the absence of plants. When carrying out fumigation of growing vegetable crops, it is advisable to use bombs with approved insecticides, which are harmful not only to adult insects, but also to larvae.

Use of chemicals. Chemical controls must be used according to the instructions provided. The most widely used are “Confidor”, “Pegasus”, “Fosbecid”, “Aktellik”, “Fufanon” and “Mospilan”. You can use a systemic type of insecticide that penetrates plant juices and, when pests feed on them, causes the death of whiteflies. A good result is achieved by using contact insecticides that affect the parasite as a result of direct contact. However, if colonies of plant parasites are numerous, and the pest has become widespread, it is necessary to use soap-based products or aggressive chemicals.

Biological agents are an alternative option for destroying greenhouse whiteflies. A reliable and effective remedy is the use of special insects, the larvae of which parasitize the greenhouse whitefly and destroy this pest.

Folk remedies. Taking into account the biological characteristics of the pest, it is allowed to briefly lower the air temperature in the greenhouse, as well as use glue traps or traditional adhesive tape for flies. In addition, spraying plants with yarrow infusion, a solution of laundry soap with pepper, and garlic tincture has very good results.