Mealy Bugs on my Phal! Help!

[leen]

I just noticed yesterday there are bugs on my phal. i googled up the images and realized they are mealy bugs. there hasn't been a lot so far, only came across maybe 2 or 3 just sitting on the petals of the blooms. right now there is a bud about to be opened and i can see a dot inside the petals so i know there are more.

where do these bugs come from? do they usually just reside on the leaves and petals or is it possible they're inside the spike too? because a few weeks ago, i started to notice dents in the spikes everyday (but didn't see any bugs at that point). i didn't know what it was and the flowers seemed to be blooming so i paid no attention. now i'm wondering if these dents are caused by the mealy bugs?

also, i read on an article that i can use 70% isopropyl alcohol as home remedy to get rid of the mealybugs. is this method effective or should i invest in real pesticide? if i use the isopropyl alcohol, do i dilute it with water first or just wipe the leaves with the alcohol itself? do i wipe the spikes and petals/buds too? I shouldn't touch the roots should I?

Any help would be appreciated! thanks so much!!

[mayres]

These little stinkers are BY FAR the number one pest that I have had to deal with while growing orchids (only 3-4 years). I grow a lot of phals too - so I know EXACTLY what you are experiencing.
The alcohol will kill them - if you like, use a q-tip and dab each one. If the numbers are low I actually just pick them physically off and SQUASH them physically between my fingers or on another surface. Sometimes I will coerce them off with the pointy end of a skewer and then smash them against any hard surface. I consider battling them a WAR and would rather remove them than kill them on the plant and have to look at their remains there. This will not be as easy to do if you have a heavy infestation - then you will probably get to the process of wiping with something like the corner of a soft cloth that has been dipped in the alcohol.
The best defense/offense I have found so far is actually Bayer Rose and Flower Spray - it comes in a blue ready to use spray bottle - you can get it at places like Home Depot or Lowes for $4.98 (other places charge several dollars more). It is a systemic and will kill any sucking insects for several weeks. You should repeat the spraying for several months as these critters lay eggs and have babies living underground (in your media). Just when you think they are all gone - there will appear a few more.
Where do they come from?
For one thing, ants will use them as "livestock". When they suck on the plants they exude sweet substances that the ants love. So even though the ants themselves will not harm your orchids - keep them away. I believe this is my main source - I'm in a lifelong battle with them.
Mealy bugs are pests that live on all kinds of plants outdoors and in greenhouses and invade any opportunity they get.
I've never seen them on the roots myself - but if I did I'd remove them here just like any other place on the plant(s).
GO GET EM!

[leen]

haha i can sense your annoyance with these buggers mayres. luckily i've only seen a few on my phal so far. thanks for your recommendations. i will try the alcohol first and see if more appear. if there's a colony of them later, i might have to invest in that spray you're talking about.

Thanks so much!

[PhalPal]

I have never had mealys, but I do seem to battle scale on my Catts from time to time. If i see any kind of bug, I take the whole plant to the sink and give it a bath with lemon juice and a drop of Dawn, rubbing the entire plant with my fingers. I remove anything that is dry, like sheaths. If I feel it is a heavy infestation I repot to remove possible eggs layed in the media. After all this I still spray with Bayer 3:1 because it is systemic. I have had really good luck with getting rid of the buggers with the very first try.

I figure we only visualize 10% of what is truly there and the physical bath treats areas I can't see, including eggs.

[digitalgate]

To get rid of mealy you have to understand mealy. sun tze the art of war..

You get rid of the adult. The egg is still around to reinfect the plant. You have to use - mite killing regiment, to kill the insect. insecticides day one, two day later repeat application. one week later repeat application and repeat every 10 days. Or
you can use systemic pesticides , spray and wait for 14 days, spray. That will cover 28 day and should kill all mealy.

[woaini1116]

Oof, I feel your pain! I haven't had them personally, but I've seen my mom's orchids with them and man, are they nasty looking little buggers! She just takes a q-tip and rubs the leaves with isopropyl alcohol. I wouldn't suggest it on the spikes or buds though. I believe that she does it maybe once a week or so. Too much alcohol can damage the leaves. If you keep at it, they should disappear! Also, make sure the plant doesn't touch any other ones. You don't want to spread them! Good luck!

[tansyflower]

I bought a couple of phals recently and on one, there were mealy bugs (not a lot) hiding behind the little green sheaths at each nodule up the spike.

If you can stomach it, give tham a poke with your fingernails (yaargh, take that..) and wipe them off on a tissue. I avoid pesticides if possible (I like the lemon juice and dishwashing liquid one tho)