PLEASE ???what is this bug

[Swamper]

Ive looked around and the only thing that sorta resembles this is a mealy bug, however this one looks like its wearing a cheap white fur coat. I saw this one on a vanda and I got rid of it, then as I was getting rid of snails, I saw some more on different trees. I guess it must be all the rain bringin out these bugs, but this thing looks like a villain out of an old star trek episode. So is it harmful to orchids like these nasty snails? Is it a mealy bug with a fur? Im buggin out
Thanks

[Dorothy]

How big is it?
It is a lone occurrence or are there a number of them?
The mealies that I have dealt with are small ..an 1/8 of an inch big and there are usually more than one ..
It might be a caterpillar of some kind ?

[Swamper]

They measure 3/8 in. I just saw 2 more on the tree(gumbo limbo) itself. Same tree the vandas are hanging to.

[susiep]

Wow, that is yucky and very big! I have seen that before and I always thought that it was a mealy bug, but lately I am convinced it is the larval stage of something else, like scale. I saw it on my staghorns today. There was a trail of ants leading to each one so I know it is a sucking bug of some kind. I spot sprayed each one with alcohol (my new favorite weapon). I used to use Orthene in the past, but I was breathing in too much of that to be safe for a human. I have had an incredible increase in all things bad these past two weeks (scale, mealies, snail and slugs). There is a war going on in my yard right now between me and them. I have also seen an increase in good things like tree frogs, dragonflies, lady bugs, etc. So hopefully nature will balance this out soon and I can hold off on the Orthene. with your monster mealies!

[susiep]

You know, if that is mealies in your gumbo limbo, you will have a hard time keeping them off your vandas. Maybe you should use the Bayer systemic on the tree, too. However, I would call the county agent to make sure Bayer systemic is good for gumbo limbos before using it. If you want an identification you could bring one to the county agent up here in Broward. They are over by Nova University and Broward Community College in Davie and they are great!

[Swamper]

Susie,So that's what they are? Monster Mealies? Are they eating my vandas? Does the alcohol hurt the plant? I've never fought bugs but they have never messed with my orchids. I found one of my phals that was so big and strong with holes in a leaf and the battle was on. I went right to Homer Depots and got some snail bait stuff to get rid of them. I sure hate to have to fight with these critters too.

[susiep]

I'm not sure what they are but I have them too. It really doesn't matter what they are, they gotta go. The ants prove they are sucking sap so they are mealies or scale (99% chance). I was hesitant to use alcohol at first, but amazingly it doesn't bother the plant at all! Even if it gets on the exposed roots. Plus it is cheap and nontoxic to me! I put it full strength in a spray bottle and spray each critter. When I had the problem bad a couple weeks ago I used a small paint brush to scrub the alcohol down into the crevices where it was living. But now I just find one here and there, so I just spray it. No ill affects to the plants at all! Plus it seems to break down the waxy coating on the bug. Good luck!

[Swamper]

Thanks Susie. I see you're not far from me so you probably do have the same suckers I do. I'll get yet another spray bottle tomorrow and fill that one with alcohol.Good luck with yours.

[camille1585]

I know what it is but I don't know the name in English. In French we don't make a difference between mealies and scale. It's all called "cochenilles" and this would be what we call the 'flour coated cochenille' As it has a oily armor under that fuzz just like scale, any insecticidal oil an insecticide which has a oil added to it should do the trick.

[Royal]

To me, it looks like some sort of wooly aphid.