Scale insects use their highly developed sucking and stinging apparatus to extract the sap from the leaves of an orchid. The 0.5 to 5 mm small females are masters of camouflage because they hide themselves and their brood under a protective shield. You can read here how you can still get rid of the pests.
How do I remove scale insects from orchids?
To rid orchids of scale insects, you can rub leaves with a cloth soaked in alcohol or dab individual scale insects with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol. A solution of soft soap, spirit and water allows the affected plant to be sprayed every two days.
Symptoms at a glance – How to get to the bottom of scale insects
Although scientists differentiate scale insects into more than 4,000 species worldwide, the signs of an infestation are similar. This applies equally to scale insects and scale insects as well as mealybugs and mealybugs. If the following symptoms appear on an orchid, you are dealing with scale insects:
- In the early stages, tiny brown or green bumps appear on the undersides of the leaves and in the leaf axils
- White webs form when it comes to the subspecies of mealybugs and mealybugs
- Cripple leaves, buds and flowers
- The foliage is covered in brown-yellow to reddish spots
As a result of an explosive proliferation of scale insects, the orchid slowly dies, first dropping the buds and flowers, followed by all the leaves.
Every scale insect is afraid of these ecological means
If leaf shedding as a result of scale insects has already started, even high-quality chemical insecticides are rarely successful. However, if you find the lice in the early stages, you can save the affected orchid with these natural remedies:
- Rub the leaves with a cloth soaked in alcohol
- Dip cotton swabs in alcohol and dab individual scale insects
- Make a solution from 15 grams of soft soap, 15 milliliters of spirit and 1 liter of water
- Spray the affected orchid every 2 days
Only high-percentage alcohol can penetrate the waxy shield of scale insects. Mealybugs and mealybugs, which are classed as scale insects, can also be attacked with a broth made from tansy leaves or wormwood. You can also achieve good results with diatomaceous earth, as the powder made from sedimentary rock dries out the insects.
Tip
The scale insects often end up in a lovingly cared for orchid collection through a new purchase. You should therefore subject each orchid to a close inspection in the store for pest infestation. Experienced hobby gardeners therefore always have a magnifying glass at hand when they go on an orchid shopping tour.
