Pale wingless crickets? - Orchid Board

vmax3000 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 02:34 PM

When I am watering/misting my plants in the gh, these little wingless grey crickets scurry out of leaf axils of some of my plants...mostly mounted or hanging and typically a stiffer leaved variety, i.e., ascocendas, vandas, etc. I squished one and the gut squish was dark green in color. I assume they are consuming my plants or flower starts.

This makes me very angry..... Could anyone fill me in? Am I right to draw the line and go after them? I really have no idea what I am dealing with. I have never seen these things before.

Thanks for any input!

Narnia · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 04:35 PM

Do they look like this?

vmax3000 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 07:43 PM

More like this
http://www.bighairyspiders.com/pix/crickets1.jpg

Like the tiniest one. I went through and tried to drown them out of pots and mounts. Not sure how successful I was, but I am wary.

Narnia · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 08:42 PM

Yeah, I have no idea. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along to bestow some pest ass kicking tips.

calvin_orchidL · #5 (**permalink**) 08-05-2009, 10:22 PM

They're not earwigs, right?

got ants · #6 (**permalink**) 08-05-2009, 11:57 PM

Considering crickets are omnivores, and you really shouldn't have too much decaying matter in your orchids, I would consider them a pest, and be rid of them.

Trying to drown them out is not a good idea. It''ll promote more food for them and in essence, promote good health for them.

I would use a pesticide you are familiar with, and that's safe for your plants. Be sure to do a follow up treatment in two weeks to get any eggs that had not already hatched.

I use Talstar for my chids as it's what I have in my commercial spray tank. I hear many use Orthene. But anything will do the trick. And you don't need it too strong either. Don't ask how I know (commercial reptile wholesaler as customer)

RoyalOrchids · #7 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 12:25 AM

Hey Vanessa, I've never looked them up so I'm no help, but I can say I've noticed a few on and around my orchids this season. I'd never seen them before and I wasn't to concearned but I'm starting to wonder. At least I know I'm not the only one.

I'll be interested to see what they are. I think they look just like white crickets and identical to the pic you linked.

vmax3000 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the responses. Warning, this next part might be kind of upsetting for those with more refined constitutions....you've been warned. If I see them crawling about, I grab them and smash them in my hand. The big tale-tell is that their guts are usually either green (they are using my chids as the salad buffet

) or yellow-orange (indicating egg cases

). I am going to have to look into some pesticide, as got ants recommended. Royal, I think these critters are infesting our area and I am sure they love my greenhouse. It's relatively pleasant when compared to the unrelenting heat outdoors and it's full of food stuffs. Although I really love my grab and smash method (very satisfying

), it's not going to win me any real territory. Well, off to the local nursery to visit with the orchid loving owner for some good death-dealing chemical of some sort.....I hope it will get the roaches, too.

vmax3000 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL

They're not earwigs, right?

Hi Calvin,
I thought earwigs were dark-colored and had a pincher claw on their .... er, um....butts. Maybe I need a little update on the insect world.

orchids3 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-06-2009, 06:40 PM

Hi,
One thought about just squishing the little *******.
Here in Florida we have a big Grasshoppers - we call them "Lubbers". Insecticide does not seem to bother them much. A shotgun would be more appropriate but when we squash them the eggs may hatch anyway. Recomend having a bottle of kersoene available to pop them into - and drown them. Fortunately lubbers are slow and easy to catch so each days inspection of the shade house turns into a Lubber Patrol. We also have "Mole Crickets" which burrow around in the yeard like moles. Light brown, wingless, and sightless. We kill this one with a bait/Poison. Could it be that you have juvenile "Mole Crickets"? Have not seen mole crickets in my orchids however.
One of the guys that posts here sometimes (Des) from South Africa reports that grasshoppers are used as food in Africa. I think you could roast a Lubber and put it on a hot dog bun - Picture that in your mind.