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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Black Bugs on Tomato Plant, Part III - Using a Keyboard Vaccuum to Kill Flea Beetles

Amy,

Your birthday gift left me initially puzzled -  a computer vacuum with 9 different attachments - but then I remembered your advice about the flea beetles.  Of course, it is a bug vacuum.  :)  It works surprisingly well on the flea beetles.  Here are some action shots: 


They kept hopping around inside the vacuum.  For everyone else out there, this tiny little garden tool is the Dirt Devil Detailer and it's about the size of a banana.  The suction feels quite light, which is good because it caused no damage at all to the leaves.  In fact, it barely pulled on the leaves when I vacuumed the bugs.   

As I dispensed flea beetles, I happened to come across that exact same mystery bug from last year.   At least, I think it's the same one.  The one with clear wings.  Interestingly, I tried to vacuum it up but couldn't.  Perhaps it grips the leaves??  I took two pictures, one from the side and one from the top:


I saw at least 3 on my tomatoes today.  However, there doesn't actually seem to be any damage associated with them.

--Rachel

1 comment:

  1. I'm so glad it works on the beetles! The last one looks like an adult aphid. You might periodically check underneath to see if a population starts (it can go from zero to lots very quickly), but otherwise I think they're ok.

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