Thrips?

[cgs]

Might these be Thrips? I think there are four of them on the branches here. Sorry I can't get my camera to focus on them better. (Almost a cool picture of that bee trying to upstage my bugs.)

Maybe there is a better way for me to upload with more resolution - but zooming in only shows them to be slightly elongated. The focus is just off for anything better and I took about 30 pics to get this close to a good focus.

[RandyG]

I can't tell from your pictures for sure but doubt they are thrips. Thrips are usually on the leaves and inside the flowers rather than on the stems of tomatoes. If they are inside the flowers, you can dislodge them onto a piece of white paper held under the flowers by tapping the flowers. You can then easily see them crawling around on the paper.

[cgs]

Thanks, Randy. After further web research, I agree, but I don't know what they are. Only a few insects on this planet! Maybe it is good that I don't recognize it as a any of the easily identifiable tomato pests. I guess I need to get a magnifying glass or try to get picture in focus so I can zoom on the computer.

[Lee]

Thrips will look like fleas, and be as Randy said, on the
inside of the flowers. Definitely NOT something you want
to see on your tomato plants, especially down south.
They are the primary vector for Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus,
which is a very devastating disease to contract on your plants!

Lee

[PNW_D]

or maybe whiteflies??

http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=...ed=0CB8QsAQwAw

[cgs]

http://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/tomato-scou...lant-bug.shtml

Tomato Plant Bug - what a name! I never would have thought to look for that! I am not sure, but the nymph is the closest looking possibility. I could be thinking that cause I have mainly seen them on stems and not on leaves.

I don't think they are white flies as they are light brown and I think smaller.

I first thought it was scale like I used to get on citrus trees - but these are mobile and a little smaller.

[beeman]

Originally Posted by cgs

Maybe there is a better way for me to upload with more resolution - but zooming in only shows them to be slightly elongated. The focus is just off for anything better and I took about 30 pics to get this close to a good focus.

If your camera is auto focus, then it might be you're clicking through, rather than taking 'first pressure'. The camera then sets the focus,at which time you complete the pressure to take the photo. It only takes fractions of a second, but is vital to sharp pictures.
You might look at the viewfinder, see if there is a square or similar, as that is where the camera sets the focus point.
Just trying to be helpful.