Probably a dumb question...but I think I might have bugs

[brookn]

My little phal has something going on with her. I keep brushing off what looks like the start of spiderwebs from her blooms. Just lines of web from one branch or bloom to the other. I noticed that I brushed them off last night, and they are back again. Now I am sure because this is spider country, lots of them and all different kinds, that it might just be one of the little buggers, but of course I am a little worried.

There is no leaf damage, no sign of bugs anywhere, and it is in bloom. I have a neem spray, should I spray, or wait. I know that spraying won't make the blooms happy at all. The catts are fine and sitting right beside the phal. Still sucking up lots of water, and no web things. Guess I might have to quarantine. Any help would be appreciated.

[kmarch]

I suspect spider mites. Fortunately I have had success eliminating them wiht Safer's Soap, a mild insecticidal soap. Quarentine, spray, wait a few days or a week apray again, watch to see if they return. Repeat as needed.

Should be easy to get rid of them.

[fred]

brookn

There is no such thing as a dumb question, only the one Not asked

how true this is.

a bumb question no i dont think so if you dont ask you will never know

[tom499]

could be a spider. I get spiders on mine when there in the greenhouse. There probably a good thing, as they will catch the little buggers that can damage your orchids

to be sure, you wanna get a magnifying glass and have a good look all over.

a normal house spider will be likely hiding somewhere waiting for insects to get trapped

but spider mites and such will cause visible damage, and if you find those you better act quick.

[BillC]

I was out this morning in my GH and as usual I saw numbers of threads on my plants and I was also able to see tha cause of the threads; miniscule spiders probably not larger in size than 1/2 millimetre. Provided that you only have spiders you don't have a problem. On the other hand, If you can see on the plant tiny things that look like cotton wool balls then you have the dreaded mealy bug which also leaves threads as it moves about and which can devastate whole collections. Spider mites are usually red in colour and are also difficult to eradicate. Just keep a close watch on the plant and hope you have spiders. Bill

[thomaii]

Hay Bill, I got a mother-in-law plant and the other day I found a couple of mealy bugs on her. She is, oh, Id say 10 meters from my Orchids. I know I have books around that have remedies but I thought I would drop a line on here before checking out the literature and get as much input as possible. Iv never had to deal with these things at home, only greenhouses, and I would like to eradicate them ASAP. I reckon neem is as good as any but what of pyrethrums? Or would a cayenne/garlic/safer soap blend do the trick?

[BillC]

Thomaii, I offer this for what its worth, I once had the problem and almost gave up. The first thing you must do is not to let the infected plant get anywhere near your orchids, I'm sure you realize that already.

The normal way of attacking the mealy bug is to use a systemic insecticide usually based on a organophosphorus compound. While these can be quite effective many strains of mealy bug have built up some resistance to these and it may be necessary to try more than one type for effective control. This has been made somewhat more difficult by the fact that some of the most effective types are no longer available on the market as it has not been economic to undertake the more expensive testing which is now required for market approval. Because of this wide variability of what is available in different markets it is not possible to make a recommendation for specific chemicals, it is necessary to check what is available locally.

With some plants it is possible to wash away the bugs in a jet of water perhaps with some wetting agent. With small infections it may be possible to squash or otherwise physically remove the bugs. Some growers use methylated spirits or other forms of alcohol to dab on the insects which removes their waxing coatings and definitely kills them. However there are dangers in damaging the plants themselves with the alcohol.

An old gardeners remedy was to accumulate cigarette butts in water and the resulting nicotine solution was used to kill the bugs. Such home made remedies are now illegal in many countries and also carry dangers of transmission of Tobacco Mosaic Virus to some susceptible plants.

I hope this has been of some help. Bill

[thomaii]

"This is most excellent Bill!"-Ted

Thanks, I never thought of Tobacco, but The first farm I ever worked on when I was a kid had a strict hand washing rule after smoking. So I always assumed that everything was susceptible. I do know they call these mother-in-law plants for a reason.
I have been spraying them off and I think the Alcohol swabs might get 'em. Do you know where their eggs hide? soil or foliage? I guess thats a silly Question, I should just grab a magnifying lens and look.
I am afraid they might be resistant to most chems. The mites around here are like some sort of future, mutant, mad max beyond the humidadome, freek, nasty mites. I am convinced they have been steeling the gas out of my car.

[brookn]

Well,

I think that I have bugs, looks like it. I don't have any safer's soap, all I have is the neem. Been cleaning with dishsoap, but I guess that is not going to do it. Any reccomendations, I have no idea where to get the safer's around here. I could order, but I am looking at approx a week before it arrives. If I do use the neem, do I spray to wetting according to the directions on the bottle. Thanks for the help. Oh also am I going to have to spray the blooms? I cannot find the d$%^ things on there, but there are a few spots where the leaf is pitted, still green, but this is new. I have rubbing alcohol, and can get most normal houselhold products. School me wise ones
Oh, the neem is a premix 0.9% neem and 99.1% "other ingredients" thanks.

[tom499]

mealy bugs like to hid inbetween leaves, which is very annoying as putting most kinds of liquids down there can caause rotting.

If your using alcohols or spirits, keep the plant in shade! i dont know if this is obvious, but i had a plant with mealies, i swabbed it with some white spirit and water mix, then it was left in a light spot.

The alcohol gets cooked by the sun and burns leaves horrifically. the mealies die, but so does most of the plant

[brookn]

Thanks everyone, I am just gonna bite the bullet and spray. I am considering just spraying the leaves and medium to start with. I am gonna avoid the blooms to start. It won't be in bloom much longer. I am going to wipe the spike with the spray on a cloth. When it is done blooming, I am gonna blast it.
Catts are still doing fine, growing like crazy, and no webs. I figure the phal. came from a garden center and was probably weakened somewhat when it came. The catts were dipped and "deloused" by the grower before he sent them. They are just as shiny, green, and happy as they can be. They have not minded all of the "learning" I have tortured them with lol. I am just gonna chalk it up as learning by doing, and it is after all not a very expensive plant, and good to get it taken care of before my new orchids arrive.

[thomaii]

Brook, I think you would do OK to spray the blooms, Im far from an expert on orchids, but have treated vast amounts of other flowering plants with all sorts of treatment. just be sure about the no light policy. good luck
Oh, thanx tom, rock out.