Black midges on tomatoes: the best folk remedies for insect control

28.02.2017

For the harvest, the gardener has to compete with the vagaries of the weather and with parasitic insects. Tomato lovers get it from the black midge or, as it is also called, the country aphid or leafhopper. If you don’t get rid of it in time, the tomato midge will destroy the beds with tomatoes.

• Damage from black midges
• How to get rid of black midges on tomatoes
• How to get rid of black midges on tomato seedlings

Why do midges appear on tomatoes?

When small midges appear on tomatoes, it is necessary to react as quickly as possible and take measures to destroy the pest. These insects appear and also actively spread in high humidity and extreme heat. This environment is created by inexperienced gardeners or in a greenhouse.

Black and white insects cause equally great damage to plants; in addition, they are quite difficult to fight, especially in advanced cases.

The midge reproduces incredibly quickly, it attacks all the green parts of the plant, sucking the juices out of it, and having destroyed one bush, it immediately moves to the next. There are several varieties of this pest, but all belong to the same species - aphids.

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.

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.

General information and damage from insects

There are several species of midges that are not averse to eating tomatoes.
The main enemies of the culture are black and white midges. Each of them has its own characteristics. The second name for black midge is soil fly or winged aphid. An adult grows up to 2, sometimes up to 4 mm in length. It has a black body and transparent wings. It reproduces in moist soil enriched with organic matter. The larvae live in the upper layers of the soil. After pupation, they cause harm by eating the roots of nearby plants. Adults feed on the sap of cultivated and weed seedlings, hiding on the underside of the leaves. A large number of black midges on tomatoes leads to wilting of plants, stunted growth and lack of fruiting.

Black midges on a tomato leaf

White midges on tomatoes are small whitefly moths. Insects grow up to 3 mm. Midge larvae are laid on the bottom of leaves and on stems. This allows them to maintain their vital functions by saturating the plant with juice and nutrients. After such an invasion, the greens and fruits of tomatoes are damaged and begin to turn black. Even a drop in temperature does not lead to the death of pests. They overwinter in the top layer of soil.

Midges reproduce quickly enough to cause unique damage to plantings in a short time. In addition, pests are carriers of viruses and leave on tomatoes a favorable environment for the proliferation of fungi. Failure to take timely measures to destroy insects will lead to the loss of almost half of the crop.

How to distinguish from a tomato mosquito?

You should get rid of pests immediately, but first of all, you need to determine exactly who is spoiling the crop. The tomato mosquito is very similar to the winged aphid, but it does a little less harm. The main difference between pests is the breeding season. The mosquito most often attacks seedlings, since it appears precisely during this period of time, while aphids hatch during the flowering period.

The mosquito is twice as large as the aphid; it damages the plant in a similar way, drinking the juice, but prefers to start from the top of the bush . The mosquito larvae are located in the ground, and therefore can damage the tomato from the root, especially if there are a large number of worms reaching 8 mm in length. They feed on roots, and therefore it is important to be more careful.

When the tomato has grown, the roots have become stronger, the tomato mosquito will not cause much harm to the plant, however, it is necessary to control the insect population, no matter what, because it is a pest.

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.

How dangerous are insects?

In addition to the fact that black flies on tomatoes in a greenhouse or open ground are capable of sucking out all the juices, curling the leaves, and destroying the ovaries, they can infect all plants with other dangerous diseases.

Young plants are most susceptible to attack; they have not yet grown strong, and the roots have not gained strength. Fungal and bacterial infections, along with aphids, will completely destroy the plant.

Parasites are dangerous for tomatoes not only in adulthood. At the larval stage, they secrete a sticky, waxy liquid that prevents the plant from developing normally. As a result, it becomes more difficult to control aphids.

For an adult, strong tomato bush, aphids are not so terrible; it is difficult for the insect to bite through the hardened parts of the plant. However, mature fruits may suffer and develop unsightly black spots caused by insect waste.

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.

How to deal with the pest?

It’s easy to defeat the pest at home; the main thing is to do the procedure in a timely manner, treat all parts of the plant, not only the foliage, but also the trunk. For a greenhouse, control methods are practically the same.

Chemicals

The most common chemical control method is spraying. There are a large number of different drugs that will help cope with black aphids. You need to spray tomatoes against black midges according to the instructions on the packaging, which are present on any preparation.

Systemic chemical products will be most effective; it is best to use enteric contact agents Aktaru and Decis.

Specialized means

Insect control can be more severe or using gentle insecticides of organic origin. To treat tomatoes, preparations based on vegetable oils and acids are used. The most popular among them are Fitoverm, Aktafit.

When handling, it is important to strictly follow safety precautions by wearing gloves and a respirator. Repeat spraying twice, taking weekly breaks between them. During the tomato ripening period, the plants are not treated with chemicals.

Folk recipes

If time is not lost, the aphids have not spread much on the plants, then folk remedies may well help. The treatment will have to be carried out several times, but this will protect the future harvest from the effects of chemicals.

1. Treatment with soap and ash are the most universal methods of combating aphids. To do this, you need to dissolve 20 g of laundry soap shavings and ¼ kg of tree ash in a bucket of warm water. Then thoroughly spray with this solution, even rinse individual areas of the plants.
2. If you dissolve 1 tbsp. l. table vinegar 9% in a liter of water, you will also get a good solution for fighting insects on tomatoes.
3. The following composition is infused for about three days: dissolve 2 tbsp in a bucket of hot water. l. red chili pepper, 6 tbsp. l. dry mustard, two chopped heads of garlic. This method involves bathing tomato tops in a solution; it is especially important to treat the lower part of the plants.
4. Taking 4 kg of celandine branches, you need to fill them with a bucket of water, leave for a day, then bring to a boil, steam over low heat for half an hour. Strain the mixture, dilute 1 liter of decoction with 10 liters of water. After another two days, spray the diseased plants; repeat only after a week.

Long-term preparation of folk remedies leads to the fact that during this period the pests spread greatly. Preference should be given to quick ways to solve the problem.

Fumigation of greenhouses

Fumigation can only be done in a greenhouse; this method will not give results in the fresh air. Sulfur is used for combustion; 1 m3 requires 200 g of dry matter. After the procedure, the greenhouse must be closed for at least 4 days. Not only the aphid dies, but also the tomato mosquito. Carry out processing strictly after harvesting.

Biological drugs

Treatment with biological agents is safe for humans, but the result of exposure is somewhat different. One important condition distinguishes them from chemical ones - that it is permissible to pick and eat the fruits after treatment after 2 days. Also, biological products are harmless to animals and bees. The maximum result of their use will be visible after a week.

Entobacterin helps destroy insects at high air temperatures, which is an advantage for the southern regions of the country. And 50 species of different pests die from its influence. The drug Strela will destroy a large number of pests in just 2 days.

Every year, many different biological products appear that help fight pests.

What herbs will help get rid of parasites?

Treatment will not be useful if you plant the necessary herbs next to the tomatoes that can repel pests. Flowering strongly scented plants such as fennel, peppermint or basil will repel aphids. It is useful to sow garlic or cilantro between rows of tomatoes; marigolds will help in the fight against aphids.

What to do if folk remedies don’t help

If the insect colony is too large, you will have to use insecticides. In this case, the following biological products are effective:

• "Fitoverm";
• "Akarin."

Chemicals:

• "Biotlin";
• "Fufanon."

Before processing, the drug is diluted in water and then acted according to the instructions. You should not expect a significant effect in the first days - as a rule, the result becomes noticeable after 4 days.

Warning:

After using chemicals, after 3-4 days, it is advisable to spray the bushes with clean water to wash off the remaining solution. The harvest can be harvested no earlier than the waiting period (it is always indicated in the instructions, usually 2-3 days).

After several trials, we settled on dectar soap - it is very effective, it helps from the first spray. And since at this time the tomatoes are already blooming, we add boron chelate to the sprayer - it turns out 2 in 1 - and protection and fertilizing with a microelement for better fruit set.

Measures to save seedlings

If black midge appears on tomato seedlings, then you urgently need to spray the plants with Proteus. Careful treatment of the bushes with folk remedies will help, this will be an infusion of herbs or tobacco, as well as ash or iodine.

Carefully inspect the area and surrounding area; if you find an anthill, remove it immediately. This can be easily done using boiling water or hot ash. There are many ways to fight ants; it is better to use several of them at the same time.

Interesting! In a greenhouse, the best method is fumigation or mechanical removal (in cases where there are few insects).

Saving seedlings

Due to too much watering in cold weather, midges can appear on tomato seedlings. To combat it, folk remedies will help, since chemicals are harmful to young shoots.

Tomato seedlings should be watered with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate, or 1 tablespoon of vinegar diluted in a liter of water.

Many gardeners, in order to avoid the appearance of midges on young shoots, sprinkle ash on top of the soil in pots. Insects will not be able to hide in the ground and lay eggs.

Prevention

Pests will appear less often in the garden if you use simple prevention methods:

• regular autumn removal of weeds from the site;
• digging up the earth;
• escape in a greenhouse by fumigation with sulfur;
• removal of anthills;
• attracting ladybugs, wasps;
• attracting birds;
• planting useful plants between tomato rows.

Advice! It is important not to flood the plants, and not to overheat the air in greenhouses.

To preserve the harvest, it is important to regularly inspect the bushes, find pests, and take a responsible approach to their removal. Various preventive measures and therapeutic agents are used to help get rid of black midges or whiteflies on tomatoes.

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

Signs of infection

On tomatoes, white midges only appear in the greenhouse, and infected plants are quite easy to recognize. The leaves are yellow and curled, fruit development is uneven, and their internal tissues turn white.

Recommendation! And to make sure that you are really dealing with a whitefly, just touch the affected bush - the small midge will immediately rise into the air.

It is worth noting that it is the whitefly larvae that cause the greatest harm. And if only adult individuals were found on tomato bushes, this means that no serious damage has yet been caused to the tomato plantings.

Important! However, even in such a situation, it is necessary to select a drug that will prevent the active reproduction of pests and protect the harvest!

Folk recipes

When midges appear on tomatoes, it is not always necessary to use toxic substances. In some cases, folk remedies and methods are quite effective. The simplest of them involves the use of low temperatures. Simply take the midge-infested tomatoes outside and leave them until the morning.

Important! This method is only suitable for cold-resistant varieties, and such an event can be carried out in early spring, when the air temperature is still quite low. And when the thermometer drops below +15°C, the whitefly will die!

On a note! The soap solution does a great job even with numerous colonies of white midges on tomatoes!

Preparatory activities

If bugs or flies appear in the seedlings, it is necessary to get rid of them urgently. Any delay threatens that there will be even more of them. It is necessary to use ready-made chemicals to kill pests and folk remedies.

It is necessary to dry the soil and remove excess moisture. To do this, the pots are placed in the sun and not watered for several days.

The room needs to be thoroughly cleaned, the floor, trash can, and window sills should be washed. All organic residues are removed from surfaces.

If the pots with seedlings are equipped with a tray for collecting water, it must be emptied and dried in a timely manner.

Between waterings, you need to loosen the soil - this will improve drying and provide air access to the root system.

Use toothpicks to loosen small pots, and forks for larger ones.

Moderately dry soil allows:

In order to determine the degree of infection, you need to carefully remove the seedling from the pot and clean off the earthen lump. Afterwards the roots are inspected. If they are not covered with balls of worms, everything is not so scary.

You need to start fighting midges as soon as they are discovered. Do not allow adults to reproduce further.

Chemical treatment

Of course, the chemical method is not the best method, but it often turns out to be the most effective. Preparations that can be used to treat tomatoes are divided into 3 groups:

• contact (Fury, Arrivo, Inta-Vir);
• intestinal (Tantrek, Konfidor);
• systemic (Aktara).

All these compounds are extremely toxic, so when processing you need to take personal protection measures. In addition, substances are removed from tomatoes gradually, over 20-30 days, which means that spraying should be carried out before the ovary appears.

Video "Struggle"

From the video you will learn how to fight aphids.

If you notice that a black midge has appeared on tomatoes growing in your beds, then get ready to fight for the harvest - you have been visited by aphids, one of the most famous and dangerous pests of garden and vegetable plants. Don't be surprised by their appearance - black midges with or without transparent wings are one of the subspecies of the well-known aphid. The only difference is in appearance. It will harm the plant no less than its more famous “sister”, which has a pale green color - it will suck out the juices, while actively multiplying and increasing its ranks, which is why the plant will die. Having destroyed the affected plant, the aphid will move to the neighboring one, and thus destroy all available bushes.

How to get rid of black midges?

There are several ways to fight. The first, most accessible, is to destroy aphids with your own hands, without the use of auxiliary means. If insects have not yet infested your garden, and you observe small clusters of them, try washing them off with a stream of water from a hose or remove them by hand, examining each bush. On bushes, including tomatoes, black midges have the largest concentrations on the underside of leaves.

Another method that does not require costs is to destroy aphids, “using the services” of other insects that feed on them, and small birds. Some wasps, lacewings, hoverflies and ladybugs are not averse to feasting on aphids. Contrary to popular belief, ants do not eat aphids. On the contrary, they protect it, using it as a source of food - a sweetish liquid that aphids secrete when eating young leaves of plants. To attract aphids in the fight against aphids, plant fragrant herbs. Unfortunately, this method is also effective only if you find black midges on tomatoes in small quantities.

One of the best ways to prevent aphid invasion is to plant plants in the beds so that crops on which this insect does not settle alternate with varieties that are interesting to it. For example, garlic and onions repel aphids.

If there are large numbers of black midges on tomatoes, you will still have to fight it using various chemicals by spraying the leaves of the plant with them. You can use special commercially produced aphid control products. To avoid harming the plant, it is better to use milder organic pesticides and insecticides. For example, products based on vegetable oils, fatty acids or pyrethrins. In addition, you can create such products yourself, using substances available in every home.

If there are black midges on tomatoes in your garden, then prepare the products described above and treat the plants with them every few days until the pest completely disappears. Do not forget that the described preparations can destroy not only the pest, but also beneficial insects, so it is better to do the treatment in the evening, when the insects that pollinate your plants have already finished their work.

A midge that appears on tomatoes requires a prompt response from the gardener. Even at the initial stage of its development, this parasite poses a serious threat to seedlings and future harvests. Regardless of the type of parasite that attacked the greenhouse or vegetable garden, the gardener will have to fight aphids. Before taking any action, it is necessary to study the situation. Ill-considered actions pose a greater danger than the insect itself.

New product on the market - fumigators

There are innovative products that are produced in the form of plates. It is enough to insert them into a special device that will heat the surface and cause it to release chemicals into the air.

The insecticide included in the composition has a detrimental effect on most insects. It is harmless to children and animals. The plate needs to be changed every 12 hours.

There is a more economical option - a bottle of liquid. It can be left in the fumigator for several days.

Before purchasing, read the instructions for use. Each product has its own affected area - from 20 sq.m to 50 sq.m. Popular products are “Raptor” and “Transflutrin”.

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.

What types of midges are there?

Currently, about 2000 species of midges are found in the world fauna. At home, the most common:

• domestic - fruit flies that appear next to rotting fruits, vegetables and on indoor plants;
• green – winged species of aphids and lacewings;
• black - sciarids, otherwise soil mosquitoes, they are more often found on seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc.;
• white ones are whiteflies, they are less common, parasitic insects drink juice from leaves and stems and getting rid of them is much more difficult than black ones.

Which is ineffective and even dangerous

To combat these black midges, various methods are offered on sale and among fans of folk methods.

The most popular are:

• Various fumigators;
• All kinds of Velcro, etc.
• They suggest sticking matches into the ground around the flower;
• Some even suggest using dichlorvos;
• And much more.

But it is clear that in most cases it is impossible to completely defeat the pest using these methods; you can, of course, reduce the number of flying midges, but the larvae remain. Such a struggle can last indefinitely...

Therefore, I consider some methods to be ineffective

.

Friends, the best method that I used and it helped me was the use of an insecticide called “Aktara”.

From my own experience I was convinced that watering with Aktara at the root leads to a guaranteed result with the larvae.

Why are there small midges in indoor flowers?

It is important not to forget that excessively moist soil is the best place for midges to exist and reproduce.

So, if you do not want to breed white bugs in the soil of indoor plants, then you should not neglect attention to the soil in pots

Secondary reasons for the appearance of harmful insects include:

• Pouring low-quality soil into flower pots. It leads to an invasion of harmful midges, the larvae of which will already live in the soil. As a result, you will need to quickly look for ways to get rid of the emerging parasites.
• The appearance of insects can be facilitated by transplanting plants into huge pots. The soil at the bottom of the flower pot is most saturated with moisture, only the root system of the plant does not reach there. High humidity is a suitable breeding ground for pests.
• The use of organic fertilizers will also encourage the appearance of bugs. Even if the soil is watered moderately, the presence of organic impurities will attract midges, which will settle well on the indoor plant.
• A fly can fly into an apartment from another living space, from the basement, through ventilation or an exhaust pipe. Moreover, the flying insects immediately find suitable flower pots with abundantly moistened soil.

How to get rid of midges in seedlings at home

Probably every gardener who grows seedlings is faced with the problem of midges on seedlings. But not everyone knows why they appear and how to quickly get rid of them. And since spring is the peak time for growing seedlings, let’s remember the common causes of insect infestations, control and prevention measures. Midges can appear not only in spring on seedlings. At other times, they parasitize indoor plants, actively reproducing there. Moreover, it spreads quite quickly from one plant to another.

White midges are more common on seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and cabbage. Later they can be seen on seedlings in the greenhouse, on strawberries. At the same time, adult individuals do not cause any harm to seedlings and indoor plants, unlike their larvae - small white worms that spoil the root system of shoots.

Black midges can be found on some types of seedlings. They enter the room through an open window or vent. But they cause more significant harm to plants and will have to be fought with stronger means or radical measures.

Pest identification

It is quite easy to detect such a small parasite on foliage.
Just look at the general condition of the tomato bushes. If you are a conscientious owner, you water and loosen your garden on time, as well as timely processing and fertilizing, but the tomatoes still look withered and lethargic, you should pay attention to the underside of the leaves.

Aphids and their larvae most often occupy the top of the plant, devouring young tender foliage. Another sure sign that there are aphids in your garden is the appearance of ants. For them, aphids are an excellent source of essential sugars.

There are different types of aphids, but the most dangerous are the winged ones, which are capable of flying long distances in a short time. The parasite feeds on the juice of young tomato foliage, and at such a rate of reproduction it can cause significant harm to the plant and even destroy it.

Aphids not only eat the plant and suck out the juices necessary for development, but they can also infect it with various viral diseases. In addition, the ability to bear fruit is significantly reduced in an adult plant. After all, along with the foliage, the aphids also eat the flowers, from which the ovary eventually appears.

Below is a photo of black midge aphids on tomatoes; as soon as this pest is identified on the bushes of the plant, measures should be taken immediately to destroy it.

Features of the use of insecticides

It is necessary to fight insects on the leaves and larvae in the ground. For this it is better to use special chemicals. Insecticides are potent drugs. Safety precautions must be followed.

Each group has its pros and cons.

Before using any drug, you must carefully study the instructions. Follow the dosage. You should not add more product, otherwise it will lead to the death of the seedlings.

The treatment is carried out in a non-residential area. You can go out onto the balcony or into the courtyard. A man puts on protective clothing, gloves, and a face mask. Animals, children, and other adults are removed from the room.

For treatment, it is better to use several products that are aimed at the soil and the plant itself. First the soil is processed, then the stems and leaves.

Repeated treatment is carried out after a week. The room is washed, ventilated, and hard-to-reach places are cleaned especially well.

Of the cheap and effective insecticides, Dichlorvos is often chosen. It is caustic and can burn plants. For processing you need to take a plastic bag. The product is carefully sprayed inside it. After which the bag is fixed over the seedling. It should not touch the leaves. Therefore, it is secured with a support in the ground or with the help of external objects.

The “greenhouse” is left for 10 hours, after which it is removed. This method effectively gets rid of larvae and adults.

Briefly about tomatoes and their pests

Modern varieties are unpretentious and produce a rich harvest with minimal effort. But caring for a tomato requires knowledge and skills. Difficulties begin from the first days of growing seedlings. A little later, gardeners have another headache - how to get rid of pests and prevent diseases with the help of drugs or folk remedies.

Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, which is loved by many insects and pathogenic bacteria . The latest are:

• Blackleg. First, the root collar becomes dark in color, then rots, which leads to thinning of the stem and death of the plant. The disease spreads quickly and can destroy a plantation in a short time.
• Late blight affects leaves and fruits, which dry out and rot. When infected, it can destroy 80% of all plants.
• Brown spotting appears when there is high humidity or low temperature. This is a fungal disease. The spores are easily transferred and can persist in the soil for a long time. Symptoms include brown spots on the undersides of leaves with a gray coating.
• Mosaic, which cannot be treated, is one of the most dangerous diseases of tomatoes. When infected, pigment spots are formed that resemble a mosaic. Next, the tomato leaves curl and wrinkle, and the bush withers before our eyes.
• Gray and brown rot , the appearance of which is promoted by coolness and humidity. A tomato is infected if first small and then large watery spots are noticed on the fruit.

As for pests, the most dangerous ones include:

• nematodes that damage roots;
• spider mite;
• scoop caterpillars that spoil the above-ground parts;
• sprout fly that attacks tomato seedlings. The eggs are in the ground, and with the heat, larvae appear, damaging the sprouts.

In addition, the Colorado potato beetle and aphids can spoil the tomato harvest.

How to water tomatoes for a good harvest?

Water

It is better to root tomatoes early in the morning, and lightly loosen the soil after its top layer has dried.
to water the tomatoes
with settled warm water.
Now you know exactly how to get a bountiful harvest
of healthy and tasty tomatoes.

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