Small translucent spots on phal blooms

[Roberta]

You likely won't catch thrips in the act... they fly actively. (They DO sometimes photobomb my orchid pix...) Mealybugs love Phals... 70% rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab (or, I just stick a sprayer in the bottle and have at it). They are covered with a waxy coating, when you touch one with that alcohol-soaked swab the coading disaolves away leaving the naked little bug. Very satisfying. You can spray that 70% isopropol alcohol on flowers with no harm. it evaborates quickly, but gets down into the crevices where the mealies hide and dispatches them.