one mealy bug?

[RJSquirrel]

I got a 15x jewelers loupe looking for bugs..Everything looks like a bug @ 15x

BUT I found 1 mealy bug. 1 single mealy. What an ugly little critter. Got him with alcohol and he dropped into the media. I had to repot cus then I couldnt find him again. My question is can you only have 1 mealy bug? I would have fell better if I found 2...

the 15x loupes are neat with the LED light on it and help me see little things like mealy bugs, otherwise I would have never seen it till it was infested as they are so small....


Have to be careful when you got your eye stuck in your plant though.. yeah I got poked a few times in the eye by the leaves..Orchid fight back too

[PaphMadMan]

One mealy bug? They usally come in rabid hordes or a virtual mealy tsunami. He's got friends lurking somewhere.

[RJSquirrel]

thats what I was thinkin too in terms of hoardes. I guess I just need to hose everything down to be safe with insecticide.I really hate to do that for 1 lone bug I dont even know if he was alive. Do mealy bugs dry up and leave a carapace?

[Becca]

I have found one or two mealy bugs on one plant in the past as well. I figured there just had to be more somewhere! But I never did find them. Hmmmm.......could they still be hiding somewhere? It's been at least 4 months. I still keep a close eye out though since a few new additions seemed to have several of the unwelcomed visitors. So far so good though after the alcohol swab treatment.

[RJSquirrel]

heh I think that other mealy crawled on ovah to my house

I go thru my plants and any new plants with a fine tooth comb regularly. Now with a 15x glass too I dont miss much..But that 1 mealy sure bugged me, pardon the pun...Im NooB so I have to look at my stuff all the time. If for no other reason just to remember what it looks like for future reference. Even thought about making log sheets for each plant citing bought when and where, condition..blooms, no blooms...new growths...problems with insects or diseases..ya know just wasting my time doing something beside bloom watch

[Connie Star]

I recently discovered a few mealy bugs on a few of my 'chids. My eagle-eyed entomologist husband noticed them first. We picked them off, alcoholed them and Botoni-wiped them. When one reappeared on a warm day, we took them outside and sprayed with neem oil. Here's hoping they're gone.
I keep log sheets on my plants and have since I started. In my case, O(rchid) C(ollecting) D(isorder) = Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In psychiatry, that's referred to as a "dual diagnosis"- just proves I'm crazy.

[Gin]

If I find one all plants are treated the fans can blow them to the other end of the green house .. Gin

[johnblagg]

LOL I think mealy bugs are born pregnant so watch out....