2 problems: two bugs on orchid bark (only)

[sistercja]

Originally Posted by Pete

I grow phals indoors under lights. Many of my plants are in a bark mix, with others in sphag.

Today after watering my phals in the bark medium, I noticed these miniscule white insects (maybe 1mm, don't seem to fly) emerge onto the bark, They seem to just wander around on the moist bark as they don't try to get on the leaves of the orchid. Once the top drys a bit, they disappear (presumably deeper into the mix where it is most). My orchids are growing vigorously and show no signs of ill health.

Does anyone know what these insects are and if they are harmful to the orchid. It does not appear as if they are harmful, but I do not like bugs of any kind on my orchids.


Also, I purchased Organocide and plan to water the bark orchids with this concoction when they are next due watering.

(1) I found this description from a while ago (2010) - and it suits my problem. I also heave these little brown bugs (the size of a thin pencil dot, round-shaped). While searching the web, I found that it might be Soil Mite (Oribatidae Family).
They don't seem to be doing any harm; they just stick to the bark (running around it busily)

(2) The other pest is a silvery bug, slim shiny no more than 1mm long, moving around very fast. I work in a nursery, so I know how Thrips look like - and it does not look like one for me. Thrips tend to stick to flowers (none of my orchids are in bloom) - and I don't find them on leaves, plus Thrips are slightly longer than those. Unfortunately it's impossible to take a picture (too fast, too small).
Some people say it might be springtale, but again I'm not convinced... Is there a chance that it's something different?


Both of these bugs I noticed only after I placed a piece of an apple (while trying to catch a stubborn snail).
I've sprayed my orchidarium with Plant Rescue (yellow bottle: westland garden health) and i've tried Pyrethrum 5 EC (suggested to me by a pest specialist) - the latter is used against Thrips in glasshouses. None worked.

I've read about Neem Oil - that it's helpful. Do you agree with it? Have any of you tried Organocide? Does it work?

I've got about 30 orchids in my orchidarium, temperature is about 25-27C (77-81F) day and 19C (66F) night, humidity 70-85%.


I hope you can help me...

[WhiteRabbit]

You're #2 sounds like springtails to me, tho I definitely can't be positive. Why do you think they aren't? I don't know abouts the first - hopefully some other members can help.

I use Neem oil and like it.

[sistercja]

Thank you for your reply.
I guess these must be springtails then. I'll keep on monitoring them. Hope they won't cause any problems.

[RosieC]

If they are springtails then they don't cause harm. Some people say they are a sign of the medium being due for replacement, however I've had them in most of my orchids for years and they are come back soon after repotting, so I just ignore them.

[RosieC]

On the first ones. I'm wondering if I have them two but I don't know what they are. They don't seem to do any harm in mine, but having started in two of my orchids I brought in over the winter they seem to be in everything now.

They seem to crawl around the pots and appear on the water when I water, but I've not yet noticed any problems as a result.

[RosieC]

Just looked up Oribatidae Soil Mites and they could be what I have. If so the info seems to say they eat algae and fungus and dead springtails and are important in the soil for breaking down dead material.

I first saw them on algae on the outside of a masdie clay pot so that would match with that. They do seem to like the pots most that get algae (S/H ones and moss ones) and I don't see them as much in the bark or drier lecca ones.

Probably similar to springtails they may indicate broken down medium, but I would guess that is not always the case. For example in my case it's probably the algae that attracts them.

[sistercja]

I'm glad, Rosie! It's good to read that. If anything changes, I'll be writing

Thank you!