Help identify holes in leaf in picture!

[jmain3]

Happy December everyone! I got this baby phal orchid as a gift, but I'm worried about the holes in it. I'm deadly afraid of mealy bugs or any type of disease, and am keeping this away from my other babies. :-) Does anyone know what this could be in the pictures? Thanks! Jenn

I'm enclosing a link of the album bc the pictures are larger. Thanks again.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1141472...eat=directlink

[camille1585]

That looks like snail/slug damage to me, so nothing to worry about, other than making sure the culprits are gone!

[jmain3]

What would be the best way to remove them? I repotted it in fresh material and soaked the tiny pot in physan for 10 minutes. I also put a little physan on a q-tip and went over the leaves. Anything else to do? I'm not sure if I should use an insecticide i'm a bit worried on using one. Thanks, jenn

[camille1585]

Insecticides are for insects, not snails. And I don't think Physan will do anything to them at all. In the evening put a slice of cucumber or potato on top of the medium, and if there are any snails/slugs still lurking, you'll find them hiding under the slice in the morning! If there's nothing there, then all is well. Seeing as the damage looks old, my guess is that there is nothing there.

[Merlyn]

Also, mealy bugs don't do that kind of damage and they are easy to see as they are fuzzy and white.