Oh no, Mealybugs!
 

Hey there. I just discovered these mealybugs infesting my orchid (Angraecum Sesquipedale). What's a good way to take care of them and hopefully prevent them from returning? Thanks!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...F1811Small.jpg

I use Safers Soap. Gets em dead! Mealies are pretty easy to get rid of and prevent. Only thing with Safers soap is the residue (small price to pay, in my opinion.)

I like to use End-All, it is very effective and OK in the house where I grow.

I use Safers also...it works :)

I don't bother investing in Safers, as any household liquid detergent will do.

A really good, general-purpose spray is made up by mixing a cup of isopropyl rubbing alcohol, a tablespoon of dish washing detergent, and a tablespoon of cooking oil, and adding enough water to make up a quart volume.

I too use liquid detergent... but on some of my plants, I have a more efficient way to rid of Mealy Bugs... :D

ANTS!
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/S5002310.jpg

They never bite me, and do not travel outside of their homes (in and on the mounts). I have never wanted to kill them or rid of them, because they are so useful. I have seen them even scrape the Boisduval Scale off of the few orchids that had the pest, and attack Aphids.

...but I would recommend a small amount of detergent and a half-gallon of water, or the above formulas... :)

-Pat

Actually, I think the ants love to "milk" the aphids (ie, they consume the sweet stuff the aphids produce).

I have heard this before... but when there is an aphid, I don't see one anywhere on the spike later, or anywhere visible on the plant (I guess it could have been knocked down, though :D)... none of the pests are a big problem for me, but an occasional Mealy Bug or Aphid will find its way into the plants, and the ants always take care of them. I will try and watch what the ants do to the Aphids next time I find one... thanks for the info, though, it will help me on what to be looking for! :)

I too have found mealybugs, once you make up the solution of alcohol, water, soap and oil what are the directions for use?