I was out in the garden weeding a couple nights ago and noticed some small holes in the leaves of my tomato plants. So I looked closer and noticed some weird-looking bugs. They were about the size of a japenese beetle, but would be very hard to notice if you weren't close because they look like a speck of mud, but have a clear coating on them that extends past the edges of their brown backs. They look like they are laminted - the weirdest thing. Also there were bugs that almost seemed like fleas - very small, black bugs - mostly on the underside of the leaves, that jumped away if I didn't squish them fast enough. Man, there are so many wild plants around my house, I don't know why all these bugs feel the need to invade my veggies and flowers. I even had a few strawberries this year and just went out to see them the other day and they are gone - not even one left!!

Maybe an adult flea beetle? I get those on my eggplants every year. I wash them off with a soapy mixture, and a strong spraying from my water hose. Careful not to split the leaves with the power from the water sprayer.

It's hard to figure out what insect you are describing...clavate tortoise beeltes?
Lots of info on the internet, check it out because I'm not sure if this is what you are talking about.

I usually just pick them off and crush.

This year, I have noticed these beetles are only on my nicotianas...like a 'trap crop', thus keeping them off my tomatoes and eggplant.

Franeli - you were right. I looked up that tortoise beetle and that was it! What a freaky bug. I hand-picked them off and haven't seen any since. It just blows my mind how all these bugs seem to know right where to go. Vine borers, tomato hornworms - it's like they know where to set up camp before you even put your garden in!

I would like to thank franeli for helping finally identify this bug. I've been wondering for a long time. When I lived in an apartment and only grew tomatoes in pots I found them all the time. Now that I have more room to grow they were all over my potatoes this year. At least they are easier to squish. Unlike the flea beetle which is almost impossible to catch.

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It just blows my mind how all these bugs seem to know right where to go. Vine borers, tomato hornworms - it's like they know where to set up camp before you even put your garden in!

Most of them have probably been deposited by egg-laying females, who are quite mobile and know which food plants to seek out to provide the young with a food source. If you have bad infestations then it's a good idea not to grow the same crop in that soil the following year because some pests will overwinter in the soil.