Are this Aphids? - Orchid Board

LilianaLM · #1 09-07-2017, 12:13 PM

Hi everyone! I am new at orchids, and also at this website, glad to be pat of it 😃. I have a small indoor orchid collection mostly phals, some dendrobiums and oncidiums, and I am seeing this bugs In all of Them, for a couple of months. The bugs are mainly in the media and roots, and go on top of the media and around the pot, more visibly after watering. I think that the first issue is that I don't know what they are, despite making some research. I ve tried Neem oil 3 times( one time, 7 days after, then 21 days after due to hurricane ), the bugs are still there. I ve also tried soap/water/alcohol solution a few times, and I have repotted them all... and they are still There.. I read about soaking them in water overnight... any ideas would help! I tried my best with the picture as they are suuper tiny...Thanks!!

No-Pro-mwa · #2 09-07-2017, 01:27 PM

They do kind of look like an aphid. But an aphid usually is on the leaf. Sure would seem like the neem should have worked. I hope someone else comes in. Did you spray or water it in?

If your collection is small perhaps you could re-pot them in new media. And welcome to the board.

PaphMadMan · #3 09-07-2017, 10:52 PM

It is hard to know the size here, but the general shape could be an aphid. Aphids are usually seen on soft green tissue like new leaves and developing spikes, or on roots, not just wandering around on the media. Is it possible the aphids are coming from another plant nearby or falling from above? Have you tried actual insecticidal soap or just someone's home remedy with dishwashing detergent or something like that?

MrHappyRotter · #4 09-07-2017, 11:13 PM

Those are mites. Not the pest kind, fortunately. They live in the potting mix & there are different types. Most feed on detritus, fungus, and other tidbits of organic material. Some are predatory, feeding on other mites, springtails, and tiny critters. Nothing to worry about.

camille1585 · #5 09-08-2017, 02:47 AM

Those are not aphids, but looks like a mite of some sort. The shape is not right for an aphid, and you will not see aphids off the plant (so on the media) unless there is already a pretty high infestation.

Good mite or bad mite is hard to say, but since it's in the potting mix I tend to think it might be a 'decomposer' mite, or even a predatory mite. If you're plants appear healthy and damage free then these are very likely not feeding on the plants.

Does the media look a bit old or broken down? If that's the case, the mites are just feeding on the old mix and helping to break it down.

estación seca · #6 09-08-2017, 03:27 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

LilianaLM · #7 09-09-2017, 02:50 PM

I did try soapy water, but not yet an insecricide soap, I might do it... As far as the size they are suuuper tiny, may be the size of a human lice egg, I have added a picture where the size is more noticeable...and a video... and as far as being benign, it has crossed my mind, they are really mostly in the media, I occasionally see them on the steam or leaves but the plants are not doing badly, they have been around for abt 3 months, and I believe they came from a little cup with soil with some fruit seeds I brought from a friend's garden... I have noticed some sponts on a dendrobium seedling but not sure if they are the responsible... thanks !!

Unable to upload video... Ill try later

LilianaLM · #8 09-09-2017, 02:52 PM

The pics

MrHappyRotter · #9 09-09-2017, 05:46 PM

The mites are pretty ubiquitous. Even if you never noticed them before, you've probably had them all along unless you regularly treat with synthetic insecticdes/miticides. They probably didn't just come in on some random thing. The eggs can survive a very long time in pretty harsh conditions, so the most likely source of them is the bark, moss, and other organic bits you use for potting.

Roberta · #10 09-09-2017, 05:46 PM

The bad mites tend to live on the undersides of leaves, which show a silvery stippled appearance where they have done damage. If the leaves are healthy (on both sides) whatever these are, they aren't hurting anything and might even be controlling bugs that ARE harmful. If you have just repotted (as you indicated) then broken-down media is probably not an issue. Keep an eye on the undersides of the leaves - that's where the bad mites hide and where they need to be treated if there are any.