Red aliens attacking my sweet sugar!!

[charmbutterfly]

I don't know what the heck these are, but i noticed them a few days ago, they ate 3 of my beautiful fowers!! But at least i found two lady bugs snacking on them.... or at least i hope so!

Do you know what the red things are?

[Ross]

No clue! But if Ladybugs are eating them, that's a good thing.

[kavanaru]

the picture does nothelp much, but... do they look like these? http://www.cirrusimage.com/homoptera/red_aphids.jpg

Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle eats an Aphid

[charmbutterfly]

No they do't look like that kav
I don't know if its maybe the faeces of whatever was chewing on them maybe?
The red things don't move, at least not that i can see with my naked eye. Let me go try to get a closer shot.

I've never seen this before in my life!

[justatypn]

It is hard to say what they could be, if you have a magnifying glass to get a closer look would be helpful. It's a yucky feeling knowing something is enjoying the beauty of your orchid.

The way I look at it if they invade our space and they don't help with the mortgage payment spray it with soapy water and an insecticide and they are good to go away. I like using Bayer 1/2 the recommended "potion"

If they are aphids malathon is a good one to use, but I have not idea of a formula.

[charmbutterfly]

ok here's a closer pic

[BikerDoc5968]

The Doctor is in the house! My specialty isn't Entomology. They look too big for red spider mites, but that is a thought. Whatever they are use something like Bayer 3IN1 insect spray or something...and use it quickly....pleeeesseeeee

[charmbutterfly]

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

The Doctor is in the house! My specialty isn't Entomology. They look too big for red spider mites, but that is a thought. Whatever they are use something like Bayer 3IN1 insect spray or something...and use it quickly....pleeeesseeeee

i was thinking red spider mites too because they are red. but when i used the magnifying lens they weren't moving... maybe its the poop of whatever ate the flowers!

[orchideric]

They are way too big for spider mites which you need agood hand lens to see. They are unlikely aphids since aphids don't spread out on a flat surface like that - they would tend to be concentrated on the back of the flowers where the segments meet the ovary. But they are some sort of critter.

I recommend spraying with Malathion. It has the highest LD 30/50 around - the amount it takes to kill 50% of the people in 30 days. It is very (!!!) safe compared to all the more modern pesticides.

Get powdered Malathion. Liquid Malathion is put into suspension in a tiny amount of xylene which is very toxic to plants. Use 1 tablespoon per gallon. Get a paper or styrofoam cup, add the powder and a little bit of water, and make a paste with a plastic spoon. Then add the paste to your sprayer - that will avoid lumps. Toss out both the cup and the spoon.

If you have Physan add a couple drops per gallon as a spreader sticker.

Wait 10 days or so and blast the flowers with a hose. If the problem remains contact your local Agricultural Extension Agent.

Hope that helps, Eric

[Lagoon]

Could be aphids
Pretty blooms anyways, Charm