Orchid pest/disease

[quique1000]

At the beginning of the summer, I noticed that one of my orchids (a phanaelopsis) had developed some tiny bumps (less than 1mm in diameter). On the floor at the end of the leaf there was a shiny sticky substance. The leaves invaded by this "thing" turn yellow and die.

These things come off when you scrape them w/ your nail. I watched them under a not so powerful microscope(pocket microscope) and there were no moving limbs, which leads me to suspect it is not an insect. The underside is shiny.

Now I have seen the same growth in my masdevalia, oncidium, anthurium and another phanaelopsis.

I have pictures but do not know how to upload them?

Can somebody help me determine what it is and how to get rid of it?

Thanks a million for any help.

[Zoi2]

Is it brown scale?
Joann

[silken]

It's sounding like scale which is a sucking insect but just looks like a bump. They can do a lot of damage and are hard to eradicate. A picture would help. http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-photos.html

[NYCorchidman]

I agree. It's most likely scale. They don't move once they find a spot. chemicals don't reach them either, so you will have to pick them out one by one with fingers or small toothbrush. then spray with insectiside (whether mild or strong) to kill hatching larvae, which do move around.
Also, inspect the plants closely and do this often. If you seen any more of those little bugs, then you should use brush or fingernail to get the off.
As far as I know, once they are off the plant, they cannot climb back up. All you need to do is taking them off the plants.
They can kill plants if there are lots of them.
Go now and scratch them all off!

[quique1000]

Thank you all for your comments. I was able to post photos on a new thread. Plz refer to that.

Thanks Silken for the tips on how to do it.