Insect Question--- help!

[Cookiemonster]

Hello everyone,
I was just looking closely at my orchids today and found tiny black insects, like I really had to look to make sure they were moving and they were-- they seem to be eating the flower, I was curious as to why it seemed so be looking so sickly... I managed to blow it off the plant but there seems to be a few more, if anyone knows--any idea what this is??

And what can I buy as an insecticide to kill this insect and prevent future insect outbreaks... Someone mentioned making a mixture 1/2 of rubbing alcohol and 1/2 of 405? I dont know that scared me a bit, Im looking at Garden Safe Insecticide killer,
oh yes these are indoor plants, its somewhat warm, not too humid...

thanks everyone again

[CodiMN]

Do you have any photos of the plant in question?
What type of potting medium is this plant in? I once had a bad bag of potting medium (that was from a national company!) and there were bugs in my 'chids!
Had to throw out all the medium and tend to them "naked" for a while...cleaning them with Q-tips dipped in rubbing alcohol and such to try to kill all the bugs. Then spraying them with Physan 20 solution and repotting them in new medium from a private orchid grower. I made sure the medium had been soaked with water and rooting hormone to help ease the shock of all the change. It was NOT fun, I lost a few of my 'chids too from all the trauma.

Before you do anything drastic tho, try to post some pics and wait for others to chime in too.

[Lagoon]

Sounds like these could very well be thrips or thunderflies. Normally seen in durning the hotter weather.
Not sure what your able to use that won't effect the cost of the blooms.
Think I would just try to pick them off.

Welcome to the forum, Cookiemonster

[western orchid]

Hey Gloria, What is a thunderfly? I have never heard of that creature.

[Lagoon]

Hay there Char ...

It's just another name for thrips. Down here there also called bloom / flower lice.

[Dorothy]

Please refer to this thread on an article (with pictures) on orchid pests and beasties ... I hope it helps
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...063-pests.html

[robroach]

I think we mean "thrips" NOT thirps. Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies and corn lice. Thrips are attracted to moisture and high humidity, and will walk, crawl, jump or fly to get to it. In some stages, they bite people and pets, too! They will pupate in the mulch at the base of the orchid. Orchids that are brought inside from a summer outside will commonly have thrips in the mulch. Because their life cycle is very fast... two weeks... an infestation can happen very quickly. The least damaging solution is a diluted insecticidal soap.
I hope this helps... remember, these little buggers can spread and multiply very quickly. What you see on the leaves and flowers is nothing compared to what you do NOT see in the mulch.

Dr. Robert Roach

[western orchid]

ok...thank you very much for all the info!! :-)