Nymphs of the tomato or potato psyllid, a small suckling insect. These insects inject a toxic substance into plants during feeding and cause serious abnormalities to growth of tomato plants. Older leaves become thickened and have an upward rolling of their bases. Petioles of the younger leaves are twisted and turn a yellowish-green. Stems of the plant become purplish.
Younger leaves are narrower than normal, dwarfed, and curl slightly upward at their tips.
Internodes are lengthened and the top of the plant appears weak and spindly. Young infected plants are stunted and set few or no fruits. Plants infected when older will set more than the normal amount of blossoms near the tips, but the fruit will not develop to normal size. The fruit will usually be yellowish-red. These insects usually move through Oklahoma in April and May and should be controlled before damage becomes extensive.