Mealybugs or scale crawling on orchid pots and shelf?

[ramonypony]

I just found some bugs on a couple of orchids and on the bottom of my wire shelf that the plants are sitting on. I think they're mealybugs but I'm not sure. I'm keeping my 'chids inside during winter (I hate it) and I guess the lack of predators/rain has allowed these bugs to spread.

They're whitish ovals with what look like little legs. To the naked eye they don't move and they kinda look like seeds. I only saw a couple on a plant's leaf but I don't see any damage to the leaves. Some were on the outside of pots, most of them are on the underside of the shelf just hanging out.

I removed some with alcohol soaked Q-tips. Is spraying them with alcohol enough to kill them or do I need to pick off each one? I worry about leaving them there because I don't know if they have eggs that could hatch later? What about adding soap and spraying them?

What is the best tactic to eradicate (or manage) these?

[ramonypony]

Here are some pics. I don't think they look like the mealybugs I've seen online?

[cbuchman]

I use a spray of Isopropyl Alcohol from the drug staire) and Water (about 30% alcohol) with a few drops of liquid Peppermint Soap in a spray bottle.

Every summer when the orchids are outside, I wipe down my indoor space with a 15% bleach solution to kills any insect and/or eggs that might be left behind. This really helps control the bug population when I bring the orchids back inside in the fall (after a thorough inspection and, if necessary a dousing).

[wintergirl]

They sound like mealy bugs. Here is an article from SF paper that talks about them and their treatment...

Tips on protecting orchids from mealybugs - SFGate

[PaphMadMan]

That last picture is definitely an immature mealy bug. The "crawlers" can go a long way. Assume anything in that room has been infested.

[ramonypony]

Thanks folks. Hmm, what about "mealybug destroyers"-- those beetles that prey on mealybugs. If the whole room is infested maybe I should just release a swarm of destroyers in there.

[euplusia]

Being insects, there are juvenile larvae = crawlers and adult stages.
Natural enemies are fine in nature, but to control an infestation with predators will not put an end to the plague.
Because of eggs and several stages of metamorphosis, insectizides have to be applied at least 3 times, after an intervall of 7-10 days. The benches and pots also must be treated. In the past we treated the greenhouse with poisonous smoke. If you grow indoors, best is to move the plant to another distant place after your first treatment.