Bugs on my Onc...and what looks like a bug egg... what are they and what do I do?!!! - Orchid Board

RosieC · #1 06-22-2010, 05:41 AM

While watering my Onc Sweet Sugar this morning I spotted bugs. My first thought was greenfly but I don't think they actually look like greenfly. Can anyone tell me what they are

please click on the pics for a big version where you can see the bugs semi-clearly

There is also an egg like thing on a stalk which might help with ID of the culprit.

I have never had bugs on orchids so don't have anything specific to treat them. I do have a spray which I use for greenfly in the garden which also says it is good for other bugs... is it likely to be safe to use on my onc. The bugs are all over the flowers (although only in one spot at the momment) and I would hate to kill the flowers but if I have to I will.

Also my Mum just uses soapy water on greenfly... is that likely to work do you think?

Please help... this is the first time I've had any bugs of any sort on an orchid and I'm in a bit of a panic

cricketerry · #2 06-22-2010, 08:10 AM

Your first 2 pics do show greenfly, the third looks like egg(s) of some sort but it is not greenfly eggs as they give birth to live young.

A good insecticide will do the trick but MAY cause spotting on any open flowers. You may want to put the plant outside to spray it because of the chemicals in the insecticide.

Soapy water will wash quite a few bugs off the plant but does not kill them.

RosieC · #3 06-22-2010, 08:39 AM

Thanks Cricketerry.

I thought they were a bit like greenfly but not quite, probably can't tell that from the pic.

My Mum says that soapy water messes with the surface tension on the skin of greenfly causing them to dehydrate and die... anyway I want to get rid of them and will just have to sacrifice the flowers so I will try the insecticide I have. It has a new spike developing so hopefull it will not be long before new flowers appear

whygreenberg · #4 06-22-2010, 09:46 AM

I feel for ya, Rosie. Am going through my first-ever serious bug problem at the moment too with some
thrips.

I'm not familiar with greenfly, and don't recognize that eggy thing at all. But, something else you could add to the soapy water is rubbing alcohol which will really desiccate bugs.

RosieC · #5 06-22-2010, 10:18 AM

Thanks Yvan, I saw on facebook about your Thrips problem

Rubbing alchohol is a good idea, but I would be worried about also desiccating the plant

I only found these while rushing out the house this morning (already late) and I've just been home for lunch and soaked the plant in strongly soapy water, at the very least it has washed a lot of them off the flowers and leaves and I will take another look when I get home tonight to see if there is any sign of them left. If there is I will try with the rubbing alcohol I think.

camille1585 · #6 06-22-2010, 11:46 AM

I have no clue what greenfly are, but those bugs are clearly aphids (maybe it's the same thing?) Soapy water works really well to kill them. Don't worry about rubbing alcohol on your plants, I've used it lots to deal with mealies. Just avoid using it on cool windy days. The danger is not dessication, but cold damage. Keep an eye out for more aphids for a while, because they pump out babies at an alarming rate, at least 4-5 a day, and the nymphs will become adults in about a week.

RosieC · #7 06-22-2010, 01:32 PM

Hi Camille,

Greenfly is a common name for aphids in the UK, I often forget that is not the correct name.

I think they must be a slightly different aphid to the one I'm used to but they did give me that impression.

I will be keeping a close eye on this one. Also on another that was just above it and has been leaking sap (Enc something... the one that looks like a squid... I'm at work just now and can't remember the name

)

I've quaranteened this one and I think the other is OK.

Do you have any idea on that egg type thing on a stalk, I've never seen anything like that before?

johnblagg · #8 06-22-2010, 02:08 PM

Bayer insect mite and disease control spray is good...Its a systemic so it gets adsorbed by plant and last about 1 month ...It also kills on contact.

You could put a small baggie over the blooms and then spray to keep it off blooms.

camille1585 · #9 06-22-2010, 02:58 PM

For the yellow thing hanging on the plant I'm clueless. It almost looks like the pollen sacs of some orchid bloom. Whatever it is, it definitely has nothing to do with the aphids.

RosieC · #10 06-22-2010, 03:32 PM

Thanks Camille,

Actually it does look like pollinia and I think it was a double head so it's probably just got knocked off one of the other flowers.

Having seen the lacewing ones on a thread recently I imediately thought they went with the bugs

Well at the momment there is no sign of either after it's soapy water wash. Hopefully it will be as easy as that