Is this scale or mealybug, and what should I do?

[Grim Tuesday]

Saw this little asshole munching on my plant this morning. What is it and how can I get rid of it, and beyond quarantining the plant, to make sure it doesn't invade the rest of my collection? I currently have neem oil, rubbing alcohol and insecticidal soap from a previous infection of spider mites. I am usually against heavy hitter insecticides but these pests are driving me nuts. Is there anything that would be safe for indoor use around cats?

Here is a picture of the invader:
Imgur: The magic of the Internet

[realoldbeachbum]

Hello Grim. I battled those about a year ago. I am not totally sure what they are -- perhaps mealybugs. Two doses of Safari 20 SG Insecticide ($$$) from Amazon quickly knocked them out, not to return (yet anyway).

My orchids are in a grow room - away from humans & animals. Not sure if the product is safe for cats. I do not use it outside for fear of harming bees and hummingbirds. Hope this helps.
Happy 4th!
ROBB

[Roberta]

Did a Google search on the image after cropping to just get the bug. Likely a mealy. A spritz of 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) will dispatch the individual, but then follow up with stronger stuff around it, no doubt it is not alone.

[Grim Tuesday]

I was about to quarantine the plant with the bugs when I found them all over four nearby plants, and plenty of tiny little maybe nyhmph stage ones (or something else?) crawling around the saucers. Bonide Annual Tree & Shrub Insect Control with Systemaxx (Imidacloprid) is on order. Looks like it's the same ingredient they use in flea treatments for cats so no reason to think it's unsafe.

Edit: Do folks have a recommendation as to using a drench or the slow release granules?

[Dalachin]

Mealie bug! I just battled these. I sprayed any active bugs w/ 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and treated all plants with an imidacloprid drench. I used Bonide Tree and Shrub (1.47 percent imidacloprid) at 2 tbsp per gallon. At least 3 treatments over 2-3 weeks, maybe more, and you will keep seeing mealies until it takes effect (or at least I did).

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dalachin

Mealie bug! I just battled these. I sprayed any active bugs w/ 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and treated all plants with an imidacloprid drench. I used Bonide Tree and Shrub (1.47 percent imidacloprid) at 2 tbsp per gallon. At least 3 treatments over 2-3 weeks, maybe more, and you will keep seeing mealies until it takes effect (or at least I did).

Orchids grow slowly so the systemic effect won't be seen for a long time... but next season likely will be better. In the meantime, keep up the spraying for multiple weeks to get the population down (nailing the new generations)

[Grim Tuesday]

What's the best thing to spray with?

[Roberta]

Bayer's Advanced 3-in1 has been my '"go-to" but don't know how effective the new formulation without imidacloprid is. Others on the Board have more pest and pesticide experience, especially those with animals. Do your cats nibble on the plants? If not, you should be OK spraying outside, letting the plants dry, before bringing them back in. If they go after the leaves, systemic may be a problem too.

[estación seca]

They've laid eggs far from the plants. You'll be dealing with them for some time. If you just use one pesticide sporadically they'll develop resistance quickly.

[Grim Tuesday]

This is kind of out of left field but I've been doing some reading about IPM approaches to mealybugs and I found out that apparently, heat treatment is something that kills them. Some forum posts suggest cactus growers have been doing it. Has anyone tried it with orchids? I'm imagining a large Tupperware full of water and a sous vide device, held at 120F, and to submerse the plant for long enough to warm up the whole root ball (this would probably have to be combined with repotting, otherwise it would take too long to warm all the media)