eroding spots on leaves

[Mangotropolis]

Hi,

Does anyone recognize this sort of stippling on the leaves of my oncidiums?

I fear it's something contagious because after appearing on one plant, it's now on others and even appears on new plant offshoots.

thanks!
Mary

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Looks like insect damage of some sort. Can't say what tho. Cynthia

[Mangotropolis]

Thank you! Insect damage sounds so much better than fungii or viruses.

I have found some aphids (or mealybugs? the white, cottony bugs) in and around this group of my orchids.

I'll give the plants a neem treatment. Up until now, I've just been keeping a close watch for the visible white bugs and killing them one at a time as there don't seem to be that many of them. But maybe they have an invisible component (or friend) that's munching on the leaves.

thanks again!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

You might want to use imidacloprid (sp?) instead of neem. Bayer Advance Rose and Flower ready to spray and a couple of other B A products have it. This chemical is systemic and should work well on mealies, a relative of scale that the chemical has a good reputation with. Neem is especially useful with mites that most insecticides won't kill, but it has the draw back that you need to keep the plants out of heat and strong light for a few days after treatment, and I have found a lot of very thin leaved orchids, and a few others, that don't like neem.

[Daniel S. Barrett]

hey! remember with any SYSTEMIC poison, it can be absorbed through your skin! please read and follow the label directions!!!

[The Chosen One]

I noticed something very similar to this on one of the leaves of my Phals. In fact I didn't even notice until I accidently head the leaf up so some light and it made the leaf somewhat transparent. I treated with neem, but too be honest I'm not to sure what it is. It just seemed "bug related". Anyone, had any more luck in identifying?

[prisana]

I only had this problem on my phal.. I don't know if it's phalaenopsis mites or something else..none of my other orchids (45 in all ) that are sitting side by side were affected..

[The Chosen One]

I only have 4 others Phals, but they are in close proximity on the same humidity tray and I haven't seen any other occurences of it either.