All flower growers sooner or later encounter pests that settle on orchids. This problem requires human intervention, as it can lead to the death of a flower. Most often you can hear that white bugs appeared on orchids, since they 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 capable of harming the plant. But the methods of dealing with harmful insects can differ significantly from each other, since what harms one may be completely useless in the fight against another.
The most common types of white bugs on orchids:
- mealybug, or hairy louse;
- fools, or springtails;
- root bug.
Some of these pests prefer to settle on the above-ground part of the plant, others - in the soil or roots. Therefore, for an effective fight, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each of them and understand what they eat and what they prefer. This information will help you quickly eliminate harmful insects.
It is not always possible to identify pests at the initial stage, but their negative impact can be recognized by their characteristic features:
- oppressed type of plant;
- slow growth;
- leaves become dull;
- sticky coating on the back of the leaf plate;
- causeless deformation of buds and flowers;
- leaves lose turgor, do not respond to watering.
These signs should be a reason to carefully examine the plant for pests.
Mealybug
This type of pest is one of the most difficult to remove, so it is better to use comprehensive measures to combat it.
Mealybug is an oblong, 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 nearcuttings.
The greatest damage to the plant is caused by females that have a well-developed oral cavity. It is thanks to this that the pest is able to pierce the top layer of leaves without any problems and suck out the nutritious juice of the plant. At the same time, the bristly mealybug secretes special food enzymes, which, penetrating deep into, make the plant susceptible to secondary infections against the background of weakened immunity.
A characteristic feature of the pest is the ability of females to reproduce on their own, without the participation of a male, while they lay from 200 to 400 eggs. Therefore, if white furry bugs appeared on orchids, this means that a mealybug has settled on the plant.
Podura, or springtails
This pest prefers to breed in a humid environment. Therefore, it can be found on top of the soil when watering or in a pan.
In appearance, podura resemble jumping white fleas, although there are other shades of the pest, depending on the species. Their body length is 1-3 mm. Their appearance is not so much a danger to the plant itself, but rather indicates that the orchid is weakened and needs treatment.
Root bug
This pest is one of the most dangerous for all plants. It is considered a close relative of the mealybug, but in the process of evolution, it preferred an underground lifestyle.
A pest is an insect whose body sizeis 1-2 mm. Therefore, with a small number it is difficult to detect. The root bug prefers to feed on the roots of the plant. Mostly localized in the center of the earthy coma, but in a small amount it can also be on the root collar, creeping out 5-10 mm above the soil level.
The danger of the pest lies in the fact that it not only sucks the nutritious juice from the roots, but also injects specific substances into the plant tissues, which completely change the metabolic processes in the tissues, which leads to an oppressed state of the plant. To detect white bugs in the ground, orchids must be regularly inspected and at the first sign start fighting.
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 resist their effects.
There are several ways to get infected:
- acquisition of a new diseased flower;
- with air flow through the open window;
- Using grub-infested soil for orchids.
Subsequently, the mass reproduction of pests may be due to violation of the conditions of detention and improper care of the houseplant.
Main triggers;
- overwatering;
- 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 pests, their harm to orchids can be detrimental. 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, the plant is not able to fully develop, grow and bloom, as it does not have enough strength for this.
During the life of a mealybug, a characteristic sticky nectar is secreted, which provokes the development of such a disease as black fungus. This further increases the load on the plant and leads to the fact that the leaves begin to gradually turn yellow and fall off.
As a result of the impact of the root worm, the integrity of the roots is violated. This leads to malnutrition of the aerial part, 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?
When pests are found, you should not panic, but certain procedures must be carried out. This iswill help neutralize the rest of the plants and prevent the uncontrolled spread of pests:
- Visually inspect all orchids and identify any that show clear signs of negative effects of insects.
- Isolate diseased specimens from others.
- Prepare a solution based on laundry soap at the rate of 40 g of rubbed product per 0.5 l of water.
- Wipe the above-ground parts of the orchid and the pot tray.
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 soapy solution, so you need to purchase special preparations and process orchids.
To do this, use the following tools:
- "Aktara";
- "Aktellik";
- "Fitoverm".
Opponents of chemicals can use folk remedies. But at the same time, it should be understood that they cannot give an instant positive result, since therapy in this case has a more gentle effect. Therefore, it will be necessary to repeat the treatment until the complete death of insects.
When processing, you should follow some rules:
- foliar spraying 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, as they contribute to blockage of pores and prevent the plant from breathing;
- during treatment andrehabilitation of orchids, top dressing should not be used, as this will provoke a worsening of the situation;
- treated plants must be placed in a shady place, as the sun's rays will cause burns.
If a springtail appears, 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, processing should be carried out both on the aerial part and on the roots. Therefore, the drug "Aktara" is an indispensable tool for any kind of white bugs on the orchid.
But in this case, the drug is used to water infected plants. This will enable the poison to neutralize the soil, penetrate into the roots, and then into the leaves and stem of the plant. As a result, the pest, feeding on the juice of the treated plant, dies.
But for the treatment of orchids, the dosage of the agent will differ from that indicated in the Aktara instructions for use. Reviews of experienced flower growers confirm this. After all, it is designed for vegetable crops, which are subsequently used for food.
To get rid of orchids from 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 moist 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 pests are completely destroyed.
"Aktellik", "Fitoverm"
These preparations, when treated for white bugs, are used to spray the upper part of the orchid. Their use in the fight against mealybugs is especially important, since one watering with "Aktara" will not be enough.
For spraying, dilute 2 ml of "Aktellika" or "Fitoverma" in 0.5 liters of water. With a massive accumulation of pests, it is necessary to additionally wipe the sinuses of the leaf plates with a cotton pad dipped in a working solution. Repeat the entire treatment procedure with an interval of 1 week.
When choosing a product, it should be borne in mind that Actellik has a stronger effect, but has a strongly pronounced unpleasant odor. Therefore, spraying should be carried out on a balcony or outside.
"Fitoverm" has a more gentle effect and is practically odorless, therefore it is acceptable to use it at home with further airing of 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, you can use folk remedies.
Most effective:
- Garlic tincture. Measure out 500 ml of boiled water. Chop 6 cloves of garlic separately. Add the resulting mass to the water, mix. Leave the product for 5 hours, remove impurities and spray the plants.
- Alcohol solution. Grate coniferous soap - 15 g. Measure out 10 ml of alcohol or 20 ml of vodka. Pour both components into 1 liter of water. Wait until the soap dissolves and the solution becomes cloudy. After that, use the product 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 to process.
- Infusion of horsetail. Pour 100 g of the plant with boiling water in a volume of 1 liter, leave for 2 hours, strain. Apply spray infusion.
Prevention
It is not easy to get rid of white bugs on an orchid. This will require a lot of effort. Therefore, in order not to encounter this problem later, it is enough to adhere to certain rules:
- The newly acquired plant should be carefully inspected for pests and damage, and at first it must be kept isolated from other flowers.
- The soil for orchids should be of good quality.
- Dry leaves and flower stalks should be removed in a timely manner. In care, adhere to the basic requirements.
- In the expected 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 follow all the requirements for caring for flowers.
