Is this brown scale?

[chidfix]

I bought a Catt at the Ft. Lauderdale orchid show a couple weeks ago and I guess I couldn't see past the beautiful blooms. Today I removed the dead blooms and found what I think could be brown scale on one of the leaves and psuedos. Is this what I have here? If so any advice would be appreciated. I would hate for this to spread to any of my other chids.

[sunshine]

I am going to say yes. Treat with with something that kills scale and check and treat all plants next to it. I would quarantine for it awhile until all the scale is gone.

No matter how much I I am always looking for hitchhikers I've come home with new chids only a few days later mealy bugs. It happens to all of us at one time or another

[jpyerry]

I would say maybe, the largest spot towards the center of the leaf definitely looks like it could be. But, some of the bumps could simply be abnormalities of the leaf. Here is a way you can tell: get a soft bristled toothbrush and some rubbing alcohol, dip the toothbrush in the alcohol, and then start scrubbing the bumps, if they come off with a modicum of effort, they are probably scale, if they stay despite scrubbing then they are probably leaf abnormalities. But, in the meantime, you might want to isolate the plant, and gather supplies for treatment of the plant. If they turn out to be scale, like Sunshine said quarantine and treat all plants in the vicinity. One more thing, I would encourage you to get some sort of high power magnifier, either an inexpensive loupe or something like it, personally, I have a dissecting microscope that I put my plants under when I suspect any kind of infestation, it has proven to be an invaluable tool. Knowing exactly what you are dealing with can be really helpful when developing a treatment plan, anything with a magnification of 10-20x should do the trick.

Justin

[orchids4me]

Does that big one pick off easily or with little effort?. It kind of looks like scale but I have recently had a couple of them on one of my cymbidiums out in the back yard and it looks a bit different than that you have (that leaf looks shalacked it shinny and the marking look like debris caught in) it. But that one big one being in the crease cold be a old wound or a scale.
The ones on my cymbidium (2 found) came off very easy. I am now treating all 3 of my plants because they were close enough the leaves touched. The larva crawl. The eggs are under those scale/caps.

I'm interested to see what more members have to say about what's in your pic

[chidfix]

Originally Posted by jpyerry

I would say maybe, the largest spot towards the center of the leaf definitely looks like it could be. But, some of the bumps could simply be abnormalities of the leaf. Here is a way you can tell: get a soft bristled toothbrush and some rubbing alcohol, dip the toothbrush in the alcohol, and then start scrubbing the bumps, if they come off with a modicum of effort, they are probably scale, if they stay despite scrubbing then they are probably leaf abnormalities. But, in the meantime, you might want to isolate the plant, and gather supplies for treatment of the plant. If they turn out to be scale, like Sunshine said quarantine and treat all plants in the vicinity. One more thing, I would encourage you to get some sort of high power magnifier, either an inexpensive loupe or something like it, personally, I have a dissecting microscope that I put my plants under when I suspect any kind of infestation, it has proven to be an invaluable tool. Knowing exactly what you are dealing with can be really helpful when developing a treatment plan, anything with a magnification of 10-20x should do the trick.

Justin

I Scubbed them pretty good with a toothbrush and 70% isopropyl alcohol and couldn't remove anything I hope this means I am safe.

[jpyerry]

Safe? When can we ever be safe? Nasty bugs are just like The Spanish Inquisition, Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition!

But seriously, if you scrubed them with a brush, and nothing came off, then most likely you are not dealing with scale. But, that does not preclude it from being something else. And, personally, I would want to verify that they aren't present through microscopy. If I were you, I would probably prophylactically treat the plant with a broad spectrum insecticide/miticide and keep it isolated at least for a couple of weeks, at the very least keep a close eye on it.

Then again, I am a little insect paranoid, not only am I a little phobic about bugs, but they destroy the plants I love.

Good luck,
Justin

[phalaephila]

To my eyes, it is not scale or any other insect. Looks like oedema to me, see this link:

TREC Plant Diagnostic Clinic: Disease of the Month: Physiological disorders of tropical foliage plants

Hope this helps!

[dounoharm]

another reason to isolate new purchases for a month or so....i would say yes it looks like scale to me, and that cottony looking mass right above the big one on the center of the leaf looks like the beginning of mealies too....i would treat it just in case with a good systemic insecticide....gl

[Carkin]

That large brown spot does look like scale to me too. The males look like cottony masses usually found in crevices or crooks of the leaves so keep an eye out for that too.
Hopefully it turns out to be nothing but it's a good idea to keep it isolated for a while!