black bug eating leaves - Orchid Board

pedecamera · #1 01-31-2008, 10:27 PM

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Not sure if I am doing this correct with these pictures...shoot me if I do.

Anyway
The other day I found this damage to 1 leaf of my phal, next day more... I soaked my plant under water and out came one of these bugs. Over the course of a week I have found at least a dozen of them in the room. I think a plant I brought in last fall must have had eggs or something... but here they are, I think they like orchids... I am on a killing mission. The plant from out doors I have now treated very well several of these bug are running so I hope I found the source... but my phal looks a bit sad... hope to get it to bloom this year it has been a few years.

Grandma M · #2 02-01-2008, 07:06 AM

Ugly little guy.

Dorothy · #3 02-01-2008, 07:29 AM

I am sure your phal will bounce back and shower you with flowers

I hope you have eradicated the source of your problem.
That is one nasty looking bug!
I'm not sure but it looks kind of like a weevil
How evil

Orchidophile · #4 02-01-2008, 10:07 AM

That sure does look like a weevil but they dont do that kind of damage, they poke holes in the leaves. It looks more like a slug was chewing on it, the weevils might be attacking the roots and that may be why it looks sad.

pedecamera · #5 02-01-2008, 12:08 PM

Because they always came from between the pebbles when I soaked it, I had a look at the roots... ouch
the air roots are good and several of hem. Lower down looks like I have 1 good root...
In the last 24 hr I have not found a single bug...I hope they are gone..
I only looked at the one phal... the other one seems a lot healthier so I will not poke around.
So now what? how do I get the roots back and fast.

camille1585 · #6 02-01-2008, 02:45 PM

I'm almost certain it's a weevil, probably a type of Otiorhynchus. The damage is also typical of them. Some species make holes in the leaves, and others notch out the leaf edge giving it a serrated edge.
In the case of some species, like the vine weevil, the larvae drop down into the soil to feed on the roots. Others, like the orchid weevil (which is not what you have since it doesn't have a long nose) develop in the orchid's bulbs, leaves or flowers.

I think that if you manage to get rid of the adults, you might be able to stop the problem. A lot of species have only 1 generation a year, so you most likely had little white grub eating the roots at one point. Keep an eye on the plants/roots throughout the spring and summer to make sure that they don't come back!

Jo Ann · #7 02-01-2008, 07:54 PM

This is what I had to go do battle with today…Cuban Laurel Thrips...there always in my ficus…they don’t kill the tree but it makes the leaves look ugly…

http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/i...ge/thcuban.jpg

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/nelsons/...n_thrips_1.JPG

Shirley · #8 02-01-2008, 08:09 PM

Eewww! What ugly looking bugs.

I'm sure glad I haven't run into either of those.

kiki-do · #9 02-01-2008, 08:39 PM

Man oh man, I think I am going to have nightmares tonight!

kiki

pedecamera · #10 05-16-2008, 02:23 PM

Today I can write some great news, and must thank all of you for the help.

My problem I had with these bugs is now gone, also learned from you guys some good tips.
The plant most affected by these bugs is now doing fine many new roots and leaves. the plant also affected but not as bad is now in bloom whoho