All gardeners sooner or later encounter pests that settle on orchids. This problem requires human involvement, as it can lead to the death of a flower. Most often you can hear that white bugs appeared on orchids, since they are the ones who prefer this type of plant. Therefore, it is necessary to consider what kind of uninvited guests are able to harm the flower and what to do to deal with them.
What are these insects and what are the characteristic signs of their negative impact?
White bugs on orchids can be several types of common pests. Each of them has its own characteristics and is able to harm the plant. But methods for combating harmful insects can differ significantly from each other, since what is harmful to one can be completely useless in the fight against another.
The most common types of white bugs on orchids:
- mealybug, or furry louse;
- podura, or nailstail;
- root worm.
Some of these pests prefer to settle on the aerial parts of the plant, others in the soil or roots. Therefore, for an effective struggle, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each of them and understand what they eat and what they prefer. This information will help to quickly eliminate harmful insects.
It is not always possible to identify pests at the initial stage, but their negative impact can be recognized by characteristic signs:
- oppressed type of plant;
- slow growth;
- leaves become dull;
- sticky coating on the back of the sheet plate;
- causeless deformation of buds and flowers;
- leaves lose turgor, do not respond to watering.
These signs should be the reason for a thorough examination of the plant for pests.
Mealybug
This type of pest is one of the most difficult to eliminate, therefore it is better to use complex measures to combat it.
Mealybug is an elongated fleecy lump of white color, the length of which reaches 5 mm. Most often, the pest prefers to settle in the axils of the leaf plate, where it is difficult to see. But with mass reproduction, it can be found on peduncles. At the same time, white bugs on orchid flowers are located on the back of the petals and near the cuttings.
Females that have a well-developed oral cavity cause the most damage to the plant. It is thanks to this that the pest is able to pierce the top layer of leaves and suck out the plant's nutritious juice without problems. At the same time, the bristly mealybug secrete special food enzymes, which, penetrating deeper, make the plant susceptible to secondary infections against a background of weakened immunity.
A characteristic feature of the pest is the ability of females to reproduce independently, without the participation of the male, while they lay from 200 to 400 eggs. Therefore, if white shaggy bugs appeared on orchids, this means that a mealybug has settled on the plant.
Podurats, or nails
This pest prefers to breed in a humid environment. Therefore, you can find it on top of the soil when watering or in the pan.
In appearance, the podura resemble jumping white fleas, although there are other shades of the pest, depending on the species. The length of their body is 1-3 mm. Their appearance is not so much a danger to the plant itself, but indicates that the orchid is weakened and needs treatment.
Root worm
This pest is one of the most dangerous for all plants. He is considered a close relative of the mealybug, but in the process of evolution he preferred the underground way of life.
The pest is an insect whose body size is 1-2 mm. Therefore, with a small number it is difficult to detect. The root worm prefers to feed on the roots of the plant. Mostly localized in the center of the earthen coma, but in a small amount it can also be located on the root neck, crawling 5-10 mm above the soil level.
The danger of the pest lies in the fact that it not only sucks out the nutritious juice from the roots, but also injects specific substances into the plant tissues that completely change the metabolic processes in the tissues, which leads to an oppressed state of the plant. To find white bugs in the ground, orchids must be inspected regularly and the fight begins at the first sign.
Causes of infection and reproduction
The appearance of pests on orchids is the main sign that plants have weak immunity, so they are not able to withstand their effects.
There are several ways to infect:
- the acquisition of a new diseased flower;
- with the flow of air into the open window;
- use of larvae-infected soil for orchids.
Subsequently, the mass reproduction of pests may be due to a violation of the conditions of detention and improper care of the indoor plant.
The main provoking factors;
- excessive watering;
- low or high air temperature;
- dry air
- uncontrolled use of fertilizing;
- lack of light;
- lack of preventive measures.
The greatest probability of damage occurs in the autumn-winter period, when daylight hours are significantly reduced, and the air becomes dry as a result of the operation of heating devices.
Why is it important to deal with pests in a timely manner?
Despite the small size of the pests, their harm to orchids can be fatal. The greatest danger lies in the fact that insects feed on plant sap and thereby disrupt the natural metabolic process in tissues and cells, which leads to a significant decrease in immunity. As a result of this, the plant is not able to fully develop, grow and bloom, since it does not have enough strength for this.
In the process of the activity of the mealybug, a characteristic sticky nectar is released, which provokes the development of a disease such as soot fungus. This further increases the load on the plant and leads to the fact that the leaves begin to gradually turn yellow and fall.
As a result of exposure to the root worm, the integrity of the roots is violated. This leads to malnutrition of the aerial parts, since it no longer receives the necessary substances in full. This negatively affects the leaves, which subsequently lose turgor and wrinkle, but the color of the leaf plate is preserved.
Therefore, if white bugs appear on orchids, then measures must be taken to protect the plants.
What to do first?
If pests are detected, you should not panic, but certain procedures must be carried out. This will help to neutralize other plants and prevent the uncontrolled spread of pests:
- Visually examine all orchids and identify all on which there are clear signs of the negative effects of insects.
- Isolate diseased specimens from the rest.
- Prepare a solution based on laundry soap at the rate of 40 g of grated product in 0.5 l of water.
- Wipe the aerial parts of the orchid and the pan of the pot.
Treatment
If white bugs appeared on an orchid, how to treat the plant? With a massive accumulation of pests, it will not be possible to manage only with a soap solution, so it is necessary to purchase special preparations and process orchids.
To do this, use the following tools:
- "Aktara";
- Actellic
- "Fitoverm".
Opponents of chemicals can take folk remedies. But it’s worthwhile to understand that they cannot give an instant positive result, since therapy in this case has a more gentle effect. Therefore, you will need to repeat the treatment until the insects die.
When processing, you should adhere to some rules:
- spraying the leaves should be carried out at a distance of 20-30 cm, which will allow the solution to be evenly distributed over the foliage;
- treatment with folk remedies based on oils should be carried out only on damaged areas, since they contribute to clogging of pores and interfere with the respiration of the plant;
- during the period of treatment and rehabilitation of orchids, feeding can not be used, as this will provoke a worsening of the situation;
- treated plants must be placed in a shaded place, as the sun's rays will cause burns.
In the event of the appearance of the nails, it is enough to dry the substrate, and the pest will die on its own.
"Aktara": instructions for use, reviews
To get rid of pests, it is necessary to take comprehensive measures. Therefore, the treatment should be carried out both in the aerial part and in the roots. Therefore, the drug "Aktara" is an indispensable tool for all types of white bugs on an orchid.
But in this case, the drug is used to water infected plants. This will enable the poison to neutralize the soil, penetrate the roots, and then into the leaves and stem of the plant. As a result of this, the pest, eating the juice of the treated plant, dies.
But for the treatment of orchids, the dosage of the product will differ from that indicated in the instructions for use of "Actara". Reviews of experienced gardeners confirm this. After all, it is designed for vegetables, which are subsequently used as food.
To rid orchids of white bugs, it is necessary to dissolve 1.4 g of the drug in 4-6 liters of water, depending on the criticality of the situation. Watering with a working solution should be carried out with a moistened substrate to prevent root burns. This procedure will destroy adult pests, but the larvae will remain safe. Therefore, the treatment should be repeated 1 time per week until the complete destruction of the pests.
"Actellik", "Fitoverm"
These preparations, when treated against white bugs, are used to spray the top of the orchid. Their use in the fight against mealybugs is especially relevant, since watering with Aktara alone will not be enough.
For spraying, it is necessary to dilute 2 ml of "Actellica" or "Fitoverma" in 0.5 l of water. With a massive accumulation of pests, it is necessary to additionally wipe the sinuses of the leaf plates with a cotton pad soaked in a working solution. Repeat the entire processing procedure at intervals of 1 week.
When choosing a product, it should be borne in mind that Actellik has a stronger effect, but has a pronounced unpleasant odor. Therefore, spraying should be carried out on the balcony or on the street.
"Fitoverm" is more gentle and practically odorless, therefore, it is acceptable to use it at home with further airing the room at the end of the procedure.
Folk remedies
At the initial stage of infection, you can not resort to the help of chemicals. With a small number of pests, folk remedies can be used.
The most effective:
- Tincture on garlic. Measure out 500 ml of boiled water. Grind 6 cloves of garlic separately. Add the resulting mass to water, mix. Insist the product for 5 hours, clean from impurities and spray the plants.
- Alcohol solution. Grate pine soap - 15 g. Measure 10 ml of alcohol or 20 ml of vodka. Both components pour 1 liter of water. Wait until the soap dissolves and the solution becomes cloudy. After that, use a tool to wipe the affected areas, and after a day, the treated areas should be washed with water. Repeat the procedure every 3 days until the signs of pests disappear.
- Oil solution. Dissolve 30 ml of olive oil in 0.5 l of water. Shake and use for processing.
- Horsetail infusion. Pour 100 g of plant with boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, insist 2 hours, strain. Apply infusion for spraying.
Prevention
Getting rid of white bugs on an orchid is not easy. This will require a lot of effort. Therefore, in order not to later encounter this problem, it is enough to adhere to certain rules:
- The newly acquired plant should be carefully inspected for pests and damage, as well as the first time it must be kept isolated from other flowers.
- The soil for orchids should be used in high quality.
- Dry dried leaves and peduncles should be removed in a timely manner. In care adhere to basic requirements.
- In the proposed periods of pest attack, carry out preventive treatment of plants with special preparations.
The appearance of white bugs on an orchid is not uncommon. But knowing the basic methods of dealing with them, you can easily get rid of pests. And in order not to encounter them later, it is enough to comply with all the requirements for flower care.