A Stinging Bug on My Tomato Plants

Thrips

• If your plants start developing yellow spots on the leaves, or you notice a metallic sheen that covers the leaves surface, you most likely have a thrip problem. These small golden-brown insects can deliver a stinging bite if you're not careful. They are not poisonous and can be dealt with a soap wash applied on the plant twice a week. A more natural way of dealing with thrips is by introducing pirate bugs into your garden. The pirate bug will eat thrip larva and their eggs.

Biting Midges

• Warm climates and wet soil are the perfect breeding ground for biting midges. These pesky insects won't harm your tomato plants as badly as fungus mites, which carry disease and live in the soil. Biting midges are small black insects that look a lot like sand flies. They can be dealt with the same way as mosquitoes -- with a basic repellent. Planting citronella in your garden is a great way of dealing with both types of pests.

Flea Beetle

• The flea beetle is known to attack tomato seedlings. A weak seedling that has not been watered or fertilized can be eaten by flea beetles overnight. They can be pulled off of the seedling by hand if the infestation has not gotten out of hand. Control them by planting crops they prefer, like giant mustard plants or daikon radishes. Remember to water and fertilize your seedlings, as strong plants are more resilient to infestations.

Parasitic Wasps

• There are many types of wasps. There are those that sting and those that can be your tomatoes' best friend, if you let them. Ichneumon wasps, recognized by the three long hairlike strands on their back, are known to deliver a painful sting if mishandled. They, however, feed off of cutworm larva. The cutworm will eat through the stems of otherwise healthy seedlings. The Braconid wasp, another good bug, will lay its eggs on the tomato hornworm. When its eggs hatch, the young wasps will feed off the hornworm.