Can anyone recommend a good insecticide? - Orchid Board

piaffe97 · #1 04-11-2011, 05:03 PM

I have several Phals, a Psychopsis, a Cymbidium, and a stink bug problem

The stinkbugs particularly love my Cym, and I recently discovered that they laid EGGS all over the backs of the petals. I scraped them off with a paper towel, but I keep finding the darn bugs all over my plant! What can I use that will be safe for my orchids but keep those nasty things away?

Vanda lover · #2 04-11-2011, 06:39 PM

I get the hotest peppers I can find, some garlic, put it through a blender with some water, then strain it through a coffee filter and add a few drops of insecticidal soap. Be careful not to breath it, it's powerful! I think that because the garlic penetrates and clings, it helps to repel any that might want to come back.

BobInBonita · #3 04-11-2011, 08:03 PM

No experience with stinkbugs, but acephate (Orthene) is a very good systemic insecticide. I also use Bayer 3 in 1 which has a fungicide premixed.

Eyebabe · #4 04-11-2011, 08:15 PM

Stinkbugs cannot be killed with over the counter typical insecticides.
They are horrendous.
Call an exterminator....seriously.
Especially if they are laying eggs

ewe

Brotherly Monkey · #5 04-11-2011, 08:51 PM

double

Brotherly Monkey · #6 04-11-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyebabe

Stinkbugs cannot be killed with over the counter typical insecticides.
They are horrendous.
Call an exterminator....seriously.
Especially if they are laying eggs

ewe

When I talked to the exterminator, he claimed that they had mixed success with them

God, I hate those things

piaffe97 · #7 04-11-2011, 08:58 PM

I know! They're disgusting!! I flush at least 4 a day. Luckily they don't lay eggs anywhere else, but my beautiful orchid, gross!!!! The only problem is that the stink bug problem is throughout the entire southern part of the state, not just our house. So exterminators won't do the trick, more bugs will come.

Ray · #8 04-12-2011, 07:37 AM

Try SucraShield. I have no idea if it will work on the adults (I have not seen them in the greenhouse yet), but it will desiccate the eggs, larvae and pupae, which will help considerably.

Classic toxins like acephate (Orthene) and imidicloprid (Merit) will only affect the adults, and as has been stated, not all that well.

I am a local distributor to you (Bucks County, PA), so it's next-day delivery. (And , no, I'm not just trying to sell. I really like the stuff, which is why I carry it.)

JerseyGirlBecky · #9 04-12-2011, 02:30 PM

Now you have me scared. I just put my cyms out and I live in south Jersey. I am going to put netting around them. I have some white very fine,like screen netting. I think it is for a crib to keep out mosquitos. My husband will make a frame for it for me. We have no shortage of those stink bugs!

Eyebabe · #10 04-12-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brotherly Monkey

When I talked to the exterminator, he claimed that they had mixed success with them

God, I hate those things

Very true, success is "limited" as you relate to extermination of other pests.
For example, if I have wasps, they come and kill them and they are gone until possibly new wasps come and make a new nest etc...or if I have voles, they put down poison and then the voles die off and no more voles.
But the stink bug population can only be contained as they have no natural predators and are resistant to the pesticides. Plus they are everywhere, particularly NEXT DOOR where they don't get treatments.
However, at my house, I have them treat twice per year for them and I get maybe one around the house per month whereas my neighbors have swarms of them.

I will be using the SucraShield soon and hope that adds a little advantage as well in the greenhouse where they could get in more easily than the house.