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Little white fuzzy bugs on Phals only...

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by newbud, May 21, 2013.

  1. May 21, 2013 #1
    newbud

    newbud Active Member

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    I have been fighting these little white fuzzy bugs. Sometimes just one sometimes a whole cluster. I've looked up thrips and mealy bugs but they don't look exactly like those. I have all sorts of orchids but they are only on my Phals. Big ones and small ones. and mostly hybrids now that I think of it. They are 1 to 2 mm long. I have been wiping them off with q-tips and an alcohol and soap mix. Then spraying with neem oil. I clean them all off and the next morning I find some more. Does anyone know what these are and how to treat?
    I can post pictures tomorrow when they come back as I have already wiped them all off today.
    Thanks folks.
     
  2. May 21, 2013 #2
    Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    if it is not mealybugs, then it well could be the young male scales. To be sure about this, A photo is needed.
     
  3. May 21, 2013 #3
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    It may also be boisduval scale, which is white, but they don't come back that fast, nor does mealbug.
     
  4. May 21, 2013 #4
    newbud

    newbud Active Member

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    Thanks I'll post photo in the morning when I'm sure more will return.
     
  5. May 22, 2013 #5
    newbud

    newbud Active Member

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    Here's some pics this morning. Most were gone after yesterdays treatment with Alcohol and Soap and Neem oil.
    Still had a few lingerers.

    ai1075.photobucket.com_albums_w432_Jacknet52_bd07c47b_fc42_40e1_96c3_8e98de620f19.jpg

    ai1075.photobucket.com_albums_w432_Jacknet52_049b187b_11de_448f_9849_447e3dcb434a.jpg

    and here is a shot of an infloresense that was covered in bugs the other day. The crown of the seed pod was covered with them but I think they were all cleaned off. I just hope it didn't ruin the seeds. I think the other flower behind this one took also and I plan on pollinating this new flower.

    ai1075.photobucket.com_albums_w432_Jacknet52_DSC_3097.jpg
     
  6. May 22, 2013 #6
    Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    The first one is mealybug and the second one looks like boisduval scales(small round ones are female and the white little skinny ones are male). Repeat the treatment in a week and keep the eyes on them. Boisduval scale is not easy to get rid of.
     
  7. May 22, 2013 #7
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I found imidicloprid (in Bayer 3 in 1) was very effective against the boisduval scale, but my mealybug had an immunity after a while. A systemic is a good idea because both of these can be anywhere on the plants.
     
  8. May 22, 2013 #8
    newbud

    newbud Active Member

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    thanks folks
     
  9. May 24, 2013 #9
    lepetitmartien

    lepetitmartien Active Member

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    If going into chemicals, alternate every 2-3 applications, or it'll develop resistance.

    You can go after with alcohol/soap every 2-3 days. No resistance or arthropodswould have to make a change to 500 million years cuticule habits. ;)

    If some (adult) bugs appeared the day after an alcool treatment, it's because it avoided it. You've got to stick to spray regularly.

    Have you repoted? Sprayed the roots? If not, you should.
     
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  10. May 25, 2013 #10
    newbud

    newbud Active Member

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    I found imidicloprid in the yard spray from Bayer. Neither store I went to had Bayer 3 in 1. They had Bayer Advanced with Carbaryl (1-napthyl N- methylcarbamate) It listed Apple mealy bug as one of the bugs it kills. I don't know if that's the same. I will try and get back to you all.
     
  11. May 25, 2013 #11
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    It isn't usually the insecticides that damage plants, it is the carrier. I've not tried the Bayer Advanced on orchids, but many people use the Bayer 3-in-1 on their collections. It isn't uncommon. If you are using the other, try it on an orchid you wouldn't mind loosing before spraying on other things.
     
  12. May 26, 2013 #12
    newbud

    newbud Active Member

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    Good advice. Thanks Marni.
     
  13. May 27, 2013 #13
    Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    If your collection isn't big, try Bayer Advanced (Dual Action) Rose & Flower Insect Killer. It is a ready to use product in a blue spray bottle and quite safe even for those sensitive plants, runs about $5.50 at Lowes or HD. It contains imidicloprid, a main ingredients of Merit(another systemic insecticide).

    Be careful with some of chemicals, like Merit/imidicloprid, some insects could develop the immunity if you keep using it for a long period of time, so rotating the chemicals is recommended.
     
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  14. May 28, 2013 #14
    newbud

    newbud Active Member

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    I sprayed the Bayer Advance with stated chemicals (above) on a plant that I could lose. Nothing has happened in 24 hrs. What is a good test period?
     
  15. May 28, 2013 #15
    Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    You should not have problem with that Bayer product I mentioned ablove. Many people have used it. I only use them for my sensitive plants, like Lepanthes, Oxyglossum Dendrobium and few others that are sensitive to oil based chemicals. I would use it for all of my plants but my collection is way too big for just a little spray bottle, so I have to mix my own...
     
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  16. May 28, 2013 #16
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    As Tom says, no need to wait with this product.
     
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