Mealy bugs how did they get there?

[nenella]

oooooohhh sounds terrible! I have been infested with mealies too - getting better now.I Just see a few now and then and either squish them or use alcohol on them.

[Bud]

I am surprised as to why they only infest two of my phals and my ponytail palm tree plant...the rest of the plants dont have it...I didnt bother to isolate because they are insects and can be eradicated...and I thought I got rid of them then I find that white cotton webbings again on the deepest crevace of a new leaf...grrr

I use:

10 drops dish soap
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract
2 cups of tepid water

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by camille1585

My experience has been quite the opposite, they are very hard to eradicate. I've been battling them for over 3 years. I rotate insecticide chemical classes, each time I spray the plants several times at 2-3 week intervals, then I'm safe for a month or two before they start popping back up again. There is no getting rid of them! All I can do is keep them at manageable levels, ie, a few here or there.

Boy, do I ever agree with you! I check mine every day and pick them off, as well as spraying on a regular bases. One of the reasons that I love my vandas so much is that I rarely see any on them.

[Starla]

Oh god I found mealys on one of my other house plants the other day. It got a harsh spray and has been removed to another room. DREADING it getting on any orchids. Been checking lots just incase.

The guy at my local garden centre was telling me how many things get picked up on clothes when youre at the garden centre! TERRIFYING!

[goodkarma]

I've been fighting the buggers for 2 yrs now and have tried Safer soap spray, alcohol,pyrithrin, drenching the entire plant in Safer when repotting and lately added Bayer 2 in 1 rose and flower care systemic at 1/4-1/2 teaspoon/pot. This is giving control at last. Still have to check weekly and clean up with alcohol. The nymphs hide in the tiniest crevasses! Hope this helps.

[goodkarma]

Oh, I tagged the plants that I added the Bayer to with how much I added and when, so I don't add more for at least 6 weeks.

[pedidiva]

I am dealing with mealybugs now. This thread was helpful, thanks.

[nenella]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

Boy, do I ever agree with you! I check mine every day and pick them off, as well as spraying on a regular bases. One of the reasons that I love my vandas so much is that I rarely see any on them.

I now only see one or 2 every 14/21 days or so at the moment. But I had them on my Asco last year in November. They were deep down in the joints of the leaf
where the spikes come from. Idrenched with alcohol and it has just finished it's first round of spiking this year with none of the buggers present I'm happy to say!

[Rowangreen]

I've heard both mealies and scale can travel on air currents when young, so if they keep popping up it could be that a neighbour has an infestation maybe?

Really hoping my plants are clean... I had one with mealies, got a re-pot and a soak in soapy water bare rooted for a couple of hours before I brought it in. That was months ago and OK so far so I think it worked!

Scale I got a plant with signs a couple of months ago, and gave it a repot and good wash at that time. Couple of weeks ago I saw a bit of fluff in a spot I don't remember seeing fluff... and have now sprayed my entire collection. I'm not sure it was even active at all when I got it, the fluff might just have been a bit I missed. Either way, fingers crossed I'm free of it now!

[james mickelso]

You are wrong about that. They definately teletransport from the planet Mealy which resides in the star system Insecta, hence the name Mealy Bugs. Very advanced species. They are brave souls too. Hence their fearlessness in the face of our futile attemps at eradicating them. Their teleportation receivers are usually found in the very bark media and spagnum moss we use to plant their preferred food. They are not as fond of the hard leaved catts and laelias as they are of soft leaved species such as oncidium and phals. Be wary of them. They are sneaky little buggers. They do not like alcohol though. They are tea totalers and it is against their religion to imbide in any way. And make no mistake. They are here to do battle with us big bags of water for our most precious of resources we call orchids.