A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Tomato pests

Hello

I have two beautiful tomato plants in containers. The stems and some of the leaves are covered in small black flies. They kind of look like gnats. They don't seem to be harming the plants. Also they do not fly away when I shake the plants. They basically just sit there not moving.
Does any one know what they are called, if they are harmful to the plants, and how to get rid of them.

Any ideas or information is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

That sounds like aphids. Are they mostly on the new tender growth? That's where they usually tend to congregate. You can knock a lot of them off with a good strong spray of water from the garden hose. Also, you can kill them with soap spray. Over here in the US, the most common brand is Safer's Soap. It's considered organic.

They are mostly on the main stalk of the plants not really on the new growth.
I did notice that a spider has moved in this afternoon in the mid section of one tomato plant and seems to be having a wonderful feast of these bugs.
I will try the soap spray.

Thanks

The soap spray worked. There are only a few bugs left on the plants.

Thanks Obywan59!!