Tiny (I mean TINY) bugs on my Phal blooms. What are they?

[LadySoren]

At first I thought they were stray bits of cinnamon on the blooms, but then I saw them on newly opened blooms when I hadn't use cinnamon since they've opened.
Then I realized they they are TINY little bugs. Tan/beige/orangish color. I could only find one big enough to see that they have 2 little antennae or whatever. They're oval shaped and, honestly, too small to really tell, but I think they have a bunch of little legs under them.

I don't have any leaf bugs or damage (except from my cats) and any damage in the roots I'm blaming on too-wet-for-too-long moss.

There is some damage in the blooms, but that too I was blaming on my cats (one spot I know is from them).

I'd post pictures, but they're really too small and I don't have my husband this weekend to take Macro shots if he would even agree to for me.

Any ideas?

[DavidCampen]

My first guess would be mites; they are so small that you need a 5X or 10X magnifying lens to see any detail.
http://www.staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Johnson-Mites.pdf

[PaphMadMan]

Thrips, more likely than mites from the description and located on flowers. It should be easy to find pictures and recommended treatment. They can do serious damage to flowers and soft new growth.

[LadySoren]

Thank you!

So, from this site:
Orchid Pests

I'm thinking its the thrips.
My phal is in bloom, 2 spikes, total of 10 blooms, 4 healthy looking buds left to open.

Should I attack these critters now? Or wait til she's done blooming? I am DEFINITELY repotting after bloom.

Another reason I think it's thrips is bc I noticed some of the rotting roots had a "sausage link" look to them and I was actually going to ask about that on the board too, but after seeing the photos on that page, looks like it might be from thrips as well.
Although that photo looked like healthy roots that were deformed. As I said, I've only noticed the sausage links on the not so good roots. Maybe that's why they started rotting...
The leaves look good for the most part, but now I'm questioning every single defect I see.

To add to my thrip issue, I decided to just pluck off the bottom leaf that has been yellowing. I am new at this who orchid/Phal thing, but I've read that they often shed their bottom leaf which has matured.
So I thought nothin of it. Whatever.
I look at the part that had been attached to the plant and there's white stuff and I'm thinking "MEALEY BUGS!"
Sure enough, the dude must have wedged himself between the bottom leaf and where it attaches to the plant. Talk about a right squeeze. But I only saw one. Unless it was a bunch of them all together? He was a lot bigger than these thrip things. So I grab a paper towel, dowse it in rubbing alcohol and smush and wipe. Either he squished really easily and turned into gummy dust, or he dove down into the moss as I was attacking him.

Is it normal to have ONE single mealy bug?
I can't wait to repot and see what else I find. Oh joy.
I was so proud of buying this orhid and what great shape it was in with no bugs. I guess that shows me that they can really hid themselves good. I know it didn't get it from another orchid I have bc I only have 1 other, it's a mini phal, and I know it well my cats have made me repot it a couple times in the last month. -.-


Anyway, now I'm just complaining.

So, any tips for what I should do?

Also, in case we're wrong about being thrips, I blew on the blooms and they don't start scurrying. They move VERY slowly. The only way I get them to really move is if I nudge them with my finger nail. They don't like that. And even then thu move slowly.

They aren't like baby mealy bugs or something are they? But I'm guessing "baby" bugs would be more like larvae and these def have legs.

Thanks!

---------- Post added at 03:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:30 PM ----------

Excuse my typos. You know what I mean.

[NYCorchidman]

You should really post pictures or look up a few possible suspects online and see their images to be sure.
I have no idea what it is from your description.
It is not spider mites, it is not thrips either. Thrips move fast!
Mealy Bugs are quite big but move slow.
I have no idea what kind of pest you are dealing with.
Whatever it is, handpick as many as you can find and squeeze them to death. and keep a very close eye on your plant.

but first of all, look up some pictures online and find out what you have.
Or just get a bug spray for indoor use.

[LadySoren]

Upon researching more, apparently thrips have like a baby stage on the blooms, go to the pot for a larval stage and then come back up as winged adults. I'm thinking this is the baby stage from what I read. The pix I would post would just look like tiny orangey specks on my blooms.

I'm planning on getting a bug spray. I hope I don't burn my orchid. I'll look for something that can be used on flowers.
Another thing I'm concerned with is if the spray will be toxic to my felines.... They like to lick/chew the plant sometimes.

[Ordphien]

Try a spray meant for roses.


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[NYCorchidman]

sounds like it. thrips are orangish when young.
I had lots of them on one of my miltoniopsis flowers last year. I cuff off affected flowers. Problem solved for the most part!

Spraying on flowers usually damage the flowers anyway. I think it's the best to remove the flowers. There might be more eggs and smaller larvae that may not be visible.

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by DavidCampen

My first guess would be mites; they are so small that you need a 5X or 10X magnifying lens to see any detail.
http://www.staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Johnson-Mites.pdf

Hope I'm not hi-jacking this thread but I just wanted to say thanks for the link! For a long time I've noticed tiny little beetle-like critters on a number of my plants. They never caused any damage so I let them be, but I always worried a little. Now I know they are oribatid mites that feed on fungi and decaying organic material and I will no longer frown and worry when I see them.

[DavidCampen]

If it is thrips then spinosad may be effective and it has a low toxicity to mammals. It is available under a number of brand names.
Bonide