Could these be scale bugs?

[atanasg]

The orchid has been repotted 3 times in the past 3 months already (I said I was a newbie!). Would it be wise to do it yet again in this weakened state only a week after the last time?

Also, I suspect that I got these bugs from the sphagnum moss that started this series of repotting. If that's the case then I can't be sure that whatever new mix I get will be clean and I will have to treat it anyway. In all my previous repottings I've been using 1tsp/gal solution of Physan 20 to disinfect the mix.

estación seca: I like your suggestion since it bypasses the alcohol and I would like to try it. If it doesn't work I can always proceed with the heavy-duty stuff.

What kind of dish soap do you typically use? Reading up on this I see warnings against some types of soap, such as ones containing degreasers (don't all of them have degreasing action?).

Just to double check: when you say "submerge the entire plant", do you mean the leaves as well or just the pot? Do orchids like being submerged for that long?