This Round Goes to the Mealybugs :(
 

Ever since I ordered a Paph spicerianum from an online vendor, which showed signs of a passed mealybug infestation, I had begun fighting the little buggers. I should've sucked it up then and tossed that plant immediately, but shoulda, coulda, woulda...lesson learned.

For about 6 weeks, it looked as if they had actually disappeared. I had been diligently using water spraying and alcohol along with dishwashing liquid to keep them at bay, but being the resourceful little pests that they are, they just went underground. :roll:

Two weeks ago, I began using Bayer Advanced Natria. I was really hoping to find the Bayer 3 in 1, but I later found out they don't sell that in my state so I began using the Natria instead. Um...that pretty much did nothing. It does kill the bugs on contact, but they keep coming back after about 4 days or so.

In the meantime, my strap leaf Paphs have been the worse affected. The mealybugs don't seem as drawn to the thicker leaf plants like my mottled leafed plants and the Phals. I did have to end up tossing one of the Phals since they had been feeding on the roots, some type of fungus had attacked it and I didn't want whatever it was to spread to my other plants.

So...I went online and ordered some of the 3 in 1. I also got up early yesterday and repotted all my orchids into fresh new media. I soaked the roots and all the foliage in insecticide for a good while before adding the new media. I am determined to not lose what's left of my small collection to these pesky little parasites, but they are certainly giving me a run for my money!

So far, it seems like the mealybugs are winning all the battles, but I would like to think I can still win the war. Any tips you all may have are certainly welcome.

Sorry to hear about your struggles.

What are you doing for surfaces and your growing area in general? They can get *anywhere* - on trays, shelves, lips of pots... all that jazz.

And as a Paph grower myself, I can tell you the WORST hiding place I've seen them is in sheaths - both old (with a flower) and new (developing). I thought a plant was fine until I peeled back and saw new ones.

I got some SucraShield from Ray a while back. It's mixed 1oz to a gallon and you can really soak things without having an chemical effect (my experience at least) all over everything. Considering the volume, it's cheap. It can drip down into the sheaths and into the media and wherever else you need. I keep it mixed up in one of these and am very liberal with it:
http://www.calwesttropical.com/index...t-and-spray-2l

I had to be REALLY meticulous but I think I took care of the problem when I considered the above factors.

I hope the best for you!!

Most mealy bug infestations come from the potting mix in new arrivals. Potting them in new media was a good idea. Keeping the orchids too wet is also good for the mealies. Not for your orchids. When you get the Bayer 3-1 put some dishsoap in the mix. About two or three drops per spray bottle. If the 3-1 comes ready to use put in three or four drops. This soap cuts the surface tension of the spray which makes it much more effective. This will help it get down into all the hidden places. Mealies are tough and it will take a couple of applications. Also check for any ants as ants herd mealies like cattle. And very young mealies have been known to hitch a ride on the breezes that come through open windows. They go right through screens. Look around outside and you might find a tree or bush with an infestation. Good luck. As long as the numer of mealies is kept low they won't hurt your orchids too much. They're more of a nuisance. They hide down in the junction of the leaves with the pbulb.

well I have a Miltonia in bloom and I found a couple of mealybugs in the blooms. This is almost a YEAR after I thought I got rid of them, and when the plant last bloomed.
I went for systemic insecticide granules and can at least see that the plant is now clear...
I think we have to fight against the life-cycle and systemic is the only way to go.

I don't have a greenhouse. I grow in the house by a window on a coffee table so I did wipe down the table itself, lip, and underside with Clorox wipes. I soaked all humidity trays in bleach and sprayed those with the insecticide as well. I think for now it should be ok, but I need to start that systemic treatment asap :)

Thanks for your well wishes. I hope so, too *fingers crossed*

---------- Post added at 01:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:38 PM ----------

It's funny; I read that dry media is what mealys like...you can't win, huh? I will definitely add the dishsoap to the 3 in 1....good idea.

We usually do get ants in the house in the Summer, but this year, we didn't get any at all, luckily. It's now getting too cold for them so that shouldn't be too much of a problem, but I will definitely look around for other possible sources of mealy reinfestation. Thanks!

---------- Post added at 01:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 PM ----------

I agree. I understand why, but was a bit peeved at the 3 in 1 not being sold at any of the retailers in NY. Luckily, there's always the Internet :)

The wet media is what adult mealies like. The nymphs and eggs like dry media. A good systemic will work wonders. All it takes is one ant carrying one nymph or adult and next thing you know....MEALIES everywhere.

Thanks for clarifying, James. Makes sense!

I think the right amount of circulation will keep most ailments at bay.

You are right. Air flow is key to healthy orchids with few ailments.

i wonder, is malathion helpful in situations like this?

Malathion is a topical killer only, so you would need to make sure you have it come in contact with all of the bugs, and it only works on adults.

I have had the best effect when combining a systemic insecticide - Orthene or Merit - combined with an insect growth regulator like Enstar. Even then, the key is to be thorough and repeat the treatments regularly. I find that three, weekly applications usually works, but I have occasionally done them more frequently, still spanning that same three weeks.


Ray Barkalow
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Ray,
Have you ever considered retailing Enstar?
~SJF

I don't think air circulation is the problem in this case. I have a dedicated rotating fan for them. I guess I can always amp up the air just to cover my bases. Better safe than sorry. I found when I had the air on regular mode vs breeze mode, the media was drying up way too fast; like in an hour or two, but I will play around with the settings some more and see.

My take is that air helps with many, many things - but mealy is not one of them. In fact, I've seen the breeze take the little critters (or their larva or whatever) onto other plants and been able to 'see' the direction of the wind from it. Not fun. Having said that, air is still wonderful and the good outweighs the bad, I just don't think there is a *direct* help with mealy (other than the media might not stay wet so long).

Too expensive. Retails for $140/quart, and without an EPA permit, it is illegal to break it down into smaller amounts to sell..

Wowza!!! Yeah, I would not be buying Enstar for sure :shock:

The spray I have been using is a combination of Rhubarb leaves, dish soap and alcohol. It works better than any other home made spray I have tried. Just cover the rhubarb leaves with water, bring to a boil then simmer for a while. once it is cool, strain it and add a few drops of soap and a tsp. or so of alcohol. I have frozen me extra rhubarb spray, but it does seem to keep fairly well.

So, what is a good systemic insecticide that works with orchid media? I've heard of ppl trying the Bonide granules, but they said it didn't work very well, because it was made for soil - with houseplants... If so, what would you recommend Ray, or anyone else? Is anything with imacloprid (sp?) in it going to be systemic, or does it have to say "systemic"? Thanks in advance :D

:yikes: , oh my, I can understand why you wouldn't

I have seen Merit kicked around here a lot, and yes, the label does say it is a systemic insecticide.

I have too. But I have never seen someone give a good source for it, for us orchid growers, and how much to actually use etc. I've seen places to get it on the web - but not sure where to start.

I also hear a lot of names kicked around of things we "cannot get" because it's for commercial growers etc, which does us little to no good :/ I've asked for things before and was basically told... "I have it, but you can't have it". I hear that enough, with plants!

I realize there is no silver bullet (that is cheap and available to all) but I wish someone would give a good answer on where to get something systemic that really works, and is reasonable, and available. If it exists.

I think the reason ppl say "I have it, but you can't have it", is because it's illegal for ppl to share it... ie divide it up & mail it to you... I have heard that some Orchid Societies buy "it" - whatever "it" may be - and they can divide it up, & ppl can take that home, but it would be illegal to ship it. You could always buy it yourself, but it would take more than one lifetime to use whatever it is up (@ least in the quantities sold).

The one expensive miticide that is often sold in large quantities, for a large pricetag, is Tetrasan, and I was able to find it (thanks to some ppl on another forum) in small, individual 2oz packets, for like $20.00... But that's the only thing I know of. I believe that Thyomil (sp??) is the same thing as Cleary's 3336... It's a generic version, in small quantities.

I will definitely let you guys know how it goes with the Merit. I remain hopeful if that counts for anything :biggrin:

I would take malathion over anything else. Of course it almost killed me years ago when I was extremely careless. So be careful. But in a small spray bottle it is supreme in it's ability to kill nearly anything including mites.

Island Girl, it is not illegal to ship small quantities of stuff. "Producing" those, and shipping them are governed by entirely different rules and organizations.

You buy something - including pesticides - and you can do with it pretty much what you will, including dividing it up into smaller quantities. Commercial distribution of them, however, requires an EPA registration and the accompanying reporting.

Shipping, on the other hand, is primarily regulated by the DOT, and in fact, by breaking them down into small volumes, the shipping of many hazardous materials renders them to be classified as non-hazardous.

For example, Zero-Tol, a stabilized hydrogen peroxide disinfectant, when distributed in the 2.5-gallon commercial jugs, is classified as a hazardous oxidizer, so must be shipped as a hazardous material by surface (truck) only. When sold in quart containers, it can be shipped as a non-hazardous item using any mode.

Hummmm interesting. Have you used this on a garden or is it just for house plants?

Wow, ok, thanks for correcting me! :blushing: I had been told that it was... That is good to know, thank you! :bowing

After 1 week of using the Bayer 3 in 1, I see no more mealybugs. I will continue to use the insecticide for the 2 additional treatments, but it seems to be working well...yay!!! :cheer: