Mystacidium braybonae Angraecum pests??

[tylerumn]

Guys I'm really stumped and need everyone's opinion on this.

I got this plant (Mystacidium braybonae Angraecum) last fall and after a week growing in the terrarium, I noticed these little white spots growing on the roots. They look like tiny little eggs shooting perpendicularly from the root of the plant.

I've been monitoring this plant for over 6 months now and it's been growing fairly healthy (judge for yourself from the pics). I'm just really bothered by these little white cluster of eggs(?). What are they and what can I do to get rid of them? I've never seen any insects hatching or seen anything else crawling around the tank. Weird!

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't know what they could be from, or why nothing has happened with them, but if I see something like that on an orchid, not knowing what they may be from, they get wiped off.

[tylerumn]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I don't know what they could be from, or why nothing has happened with them, but if I see something like that on an orchid, not knowing what they may be from, they get wiped off.

That's a very practical advice and something I probably should have done. As it is, it's interesting it doesn't appear to have caused harm to the plant and not proliferating. I've always assuming it's some sort of insect, but it could also be some sort of benign fungus.

[estación seca]

Is it really humid? I've seen orchid roots with what appear to be root hairs in extremely humid environments, even though they aren't supposed to make them.

[tylerumn]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Is it really humid? I've seen orchid roots with what appear to be root hairs in extremely humid environments, even though they aren't supposed to make them.

Actually yes, >75% and at times >80% humidity. Could you expand more or give reference to these root hairs? I've never heard of this before.

[estación seca]

Dicots have root hairs on their roots. These are little tiny threadlike or fuzzy extensions that help with water absorption. They can be deciduous, drying up and dying when dry, and regrowing quickly during wet weather.

Some monocots have them, but epiphytic orchids generally are considered not to have them. My Chysis bractescens definitely has them.

[tylerumn]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Dicots have root hairs on their roots. These are little tiny threadlike or fuzzy extensions that help with water absorption. They can be deciduous, drying up and dying when dry, and regrowing quickly during wet weather.

Some monocots have them, but epiphytic orchids generally are considered not to have them. My Chysis bractescens definitely has them.

I think you're right on target regarding the root hairs. Just for everyone else's benefit, google "orchid root hairs", will show a youtube video of a phaelenopsis that shows nearly identical hairs as my mystacidium.