Mealybugs on Cattleya?

[guyslp]

Hello All,

I'm a complete newbie to OrchidBoard, but certainly not to orchids. I've been collecting for over 10 years now and find that my best successes are with plants in the cattleya tribe, though some phals, phrags, and masds seem to "like me" as well.

I am posting to see if I can get a definitive pest diagnosis based on the attached pictures. I have had these infestations in the past and cleared them up, but am seeing them again now that the plants are indoors for the winter this year. Not all of my catts have them.

I am, unfortunately, all too familiar with mealybugs on various other plants like clivia and succulents. While these beasts look similar they're not exactly the same.

Sorry that the first picture is out of focus. I've already pitched this plant part and thought I had a good shot of the whole leaf/pseudobulb. The close-ups are much better and show how these things "clump" along the leaf and "dig in" where it joins the pseudobulb.

Any/all help is greatly appreciated. I need to get my camera out and photograph all of my "babies in bloom" and post some of the beauty rather than the "ugly underbelly"!

[ronaldhanko]

There is no question in my mind but that these are mealybugs. I use alchohol and swabs to deal with them - the swabs (a small paintbrush brush works also) to get the alchohol down in to the crevices,

[Ranchnanny]

I use 50/50 mix of alcohol and 409 and it works well for me. BTW welcome to the OB

Sheridan

[guyslp]

Ron,

Thanks very much for your quick response and for giving me a definitive diagnosis. It mystifies me why mealys don't get as "fuzzy" on orchids and the individuals are much smaller than on other plants I've had infestations on.

I've just started growing members of the pleurothallid alliance within the last two years. My masdevallias are doing well and I have recently acquired a dracula lotax [just barely saved that one from death, but it appears to be stable now with a single growth like a blade of grass] and another from the dracula family that's noted as (vampira 'Shadow' x cordobae 'White Heart'). The second is sending up two new growths with leaves that are very different from the lotax. Both are in a very cool upstairs room with east exposure and shaded by other plants.

Thanks again.

[ronaldhanko]

I've always been interested in the Pleurothallids. Am growing a number now in a growing case that I've built.

[guyslp]

Sheridan,

Thanks for that tip. It appears that many use some sort of "soap"/"detergent" as a spreader-sticker with the alcohol.

[nhman]

While I agree with the above, when all else fails I "go nuclear" and break out Bayer 3:1. Also gives residual protection.
Either way, remember to retreat all infected plants (and those in the nearest zip code )in about 1 week - that's the life cycle of these lovelies!
Good luck!

[Orchidjim]

Treatments can be the same, but it looks like scale to me. Notice the hard shell 'adults' . Pic # 4 is the give-away. But either way, what ever the bug, hit it at least 3 times one week apart. The spray misses some and also does not kill in certain stages. Diligence is a must. If those things do not work as mentioned above, try Safer's insecticidal soap, or Orthene according to directions. The last WILL kill them, but is quite potent and toxic.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by Ranchnanny

I use 50/50 mix of alcohol and 409 and it works well for me. BTW welcome to the OB

Sheridan

Love this stuff!

[johnblagg]

I myself dont have a problem with potent and toxic and go for the big guns always.I try to prevent as much as possible but when they do appear I dont wait for them to multiply.all the advice from the other members is good but Im not a alcohol on a swab person unless its just one or two and in the numbers you have allready there are going to be eggs waiting to hatch.