Bugs on Phal leaf

[Phalchid]

A couple of weeks back, I saw a cluster of bugs on the underside of a Phal leaf and just wiped them off with a moist paper towel. But this morning, I found they are back and a few neighboring Phals too have been infested. Please advise.

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[cbuchman]

That looks like boisduval scale. The white color with the two antennae-like appendages are what lead me to this conclusion. These buggers can be difficult to get rid of.

Recommend that you isolate all infected or potentially infected plants ASAP before it spreads any farther. You will need to treat about every 7 days to eradicate the infection. You can remove the bugs with isopropyl alcohol, safer soap or something harsher such as Malathion (do not use indoors and follow all safety precautions!). You should peal back any sheaths and remove all old leaves and they hide in every nook and cranny. A Q-Tip dipped in alcohol can be very useful in getting into tight spaces.

I'm sure others can chime is with their remedies as well.

[katrina]

You have mealy bugs and they can overtake a collection fast...but they are fairly easy to get rid of if you stay on top of it. (I'd rather have mealies than scale or mites, any day)


You can start w/alcohol and cotton swabs to get the visible critters and then lightly spray the rest of plant w/some mildly soapy water and/or alcohol. Be sure to spray into all the nooks and crannies...they hide well. If you use the alcohol as a spray, be sure to keep the plants out of any drafts until it's dry. You'll need to check the plants daily and repeat as needed until you haven't found them for awhile. Also, treat any surrounding plants the same.

OR...you can pull them out of their pots...wash them well w/some soapy water...rinse well...repot into fresh media. You might want to do this anyway if you aren't able to get them cleared up w/in a couple of weeks w/the alcohol.

Mealies are a PITA but if you stay on top of it you can get them under control w/out too much drama. If you don't stay on top of it...they can spread through a collection pretty fast.

[Phalchid]

Thanks a lot! Will start of with alcohol right now! And will surely isolate them from the rest.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Make sure the alcohol does not get on the roots. If it does, rinse it out with water asap. The roots will desiccate if alcohol gets on the roots.

[Phalchid]

Thanks Carrie, Katrina, and Philip! I appreciate your help. Just finished cleaning up. Found those critters on eight Phals and one Paph. Made sure not to get any alcohol on the roots. Will check on them on everyday to make sure they don't come back.

[RosieC]

It looks like mealy bugs to me as well. I had them on a paph and got rid of them with daily checks and alcohol on cotton buds. The critters turn brown quickly when touched with the alcohol.

[silken]

The white fuzziness looks like mealy bugs, but I think I see round little scale dots in there too. scale at some stage, or is it the males, are white and fuzzy and look similar to a group of mealy bugs. Check your plants for round hard little bumps on undersides and tops of leaves. if you see any, I would vote that it is scale. As mentioned. Make sure you isolate any infected plants and those that are suspect.

[Phalchid]

The critters did turn burn when they came in contact with alcohol. I also noticed that the leaves and petals where they congregated had a clear, sticky substance.
I did find a few tiny bugs that I missed yesterday. Don't recall seeing bumps, but will check again. Rosie and Silken, thanks for the info.