Cochineal on my haynaldianum ...please help

[Geraldine]

Good evening Paph’s lovers !

One week ago, I have noticed white stuff before the wonderful flowers of my haynaldianum (one hamp).

This one has/had 2 hamps, multifloral.
Today, I saw much more of this white stuff and after some research, I came to the conclusion that it was cochineals

I decided then to cut the infested hamp at the basis (see pictures)....

I checked and cleaned the full plant (with white vinegar) and I let the other hamp.
I have put the plant far away from the others....and of course, I have also checked the orchids nest to it.

I am anxious because this is my first issue with insects.

Any recommendations please ?

many thanks

 

[DrLeslieEe]

This looks like mealy bug infestations.

Spray with 70% rubbing alcohol on all parts with the white fuzz and wipe off with paper towel. Watch under leaves and inside base of leaf fans. Immerse pot in soapy room temperature water (a tiny drop of detergent) 24 hours to drown the ones inside pot. Make sure water is 1 cm above the mix.

Repeat this 7-10 days later.

You can also repot the plant while wiping and spraying with the rubbing alcohol. Wash roots carefully.

Treat all plant within 1.5 feet of this too.

You can also use safer soap insecticide to spray. Always treat the root zone with overnight soak or repotting.

Good luck.

PS there are also predatory beetles you can get online for mealies.

 

[CarlG]

I have found Talstar P does a good job, both as a foliar spray, and as a drench (to get anything in the root zone). It's a synthetic pyrethroid, comes as an aqueous emulsion, and does not smell bad. I use it inside my home. Not systemic, however - you'll need to spray a second time after two weeks.

Dunno it's availability outside the US. I bought mine over Amazon.

 

[Justin]

Mealy bugs. First clean up with rubbing alcohol, then Pyrethrin and lots of it, repeated a week apart.

 

[Lucienne]

Yes, these are mealy bugs.

The worst thing is that if they appeared once, then now you need to be especially careful and attentively. Always inspect the plants and carefully remove any whites.

Has anyone managed to get rid of them once and for all?

 

[abax]

Yes indeed. Orthene 97% wettable powder as a drench.

 

[Ozpaph]

yes, with multiple and repeated use of insecticides.

 

[NYEric]

clean off with rubbing alcohol, then treat. Good luck.

 

[PamO]

This looks like mealy bug infestations.

Spray with 70% rubbing alcohol on all parts with the white fuzz and wipe off with paper towel. Watch under leaves and inside base of leaf fans. Immerse pot in soapy room temperature water (a tiny drop of detergent) 24 hours to drown the ones inside pot. Make sure water is 1 cm above the mix.

Repeat this 7-10 days later.

You can also repot the plant while wiping and spraying with the rubbing alcohol. Wash roots carefully.

Treat all plant within 1.5 feet of this too.

You can also use safer soap insecticide to spray. Always treat the root zone with overnight soak or repotting.

Good luck.

PS there are also predatory beetles you can get online for mealies.

Hi: Do you keep the plant immersed for 24 hrs or just leave it in the soapy water for a short time?

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Hi: Do you keep the plant immersed for 24 hrs or just leave it in the soapy water for a short time?

Overnight is good in shade.

 

[Justin]

Yes, these are mealy bugs.

The worst thing is that if they appeared once, then now you need to be especially careful and attentively. Always inspect the plants and carefully remove any whites.

Has anyone managed to get rid of them once and for all?

Yes but it took the nuclear option-- Decathlon and Enstar II.

 

[Geraldine]

This looks like mealy bug infestations.

Spray with 70% rubbing alcohol on all parts with the white fuzz and wipe off with paper towel. Watch under leaves and inside base of leaf fans. Immerse pot in soapy room temperature water (a tiny drop of detergent) 24 hours to drown the ones inside pot. Make sure water is 1 cm above the mix.

Repeat this 7-10 days later.

You can also repot the plant while wiping and spraying with the rubbing alcohol. Wash roots carefully.

Treat all plant within 1.5 feet of this too.

You can also use safer soap insecticide to spray. Always treat the root zone with overnight soak or repotting.

Good luck.

PS there are also predatory beetles you can get online for mealies.

Many thanks for your advice ! I have cut the infested hamp, clean the rest with alcohol and white vinegar and put the plant in quarantine.

For the time being, I have not seen others bugs (on that paph and the others).

I did not try the soapy water for 24hrs because I was afraid to kill this expensive paph....

 

[Geraldine]

I have found Talstar P does a good job, both as a foliar spray, and as a drench (to get anything in the root zone). It's a synthetic pyrethroid, comes as an aqueous emulsion, and does not smell bad. I use it inside my home. Not systemic, however - you'll need to spray a second time after two weeks.

Dunno it's availability outside the US. I bought mine over Amazon.

Many thanks for your advice. Will keep in mind the products if the bugs come back

 

[Geraldine]

Mealy bugs. First clean up with rubbing alcohol, then Pyrethrin and lots of it, repeated a week apart.

Many thanks for your advice !
With alcohol and having cut the infested hamp, it seems to be ok for now....

 

[Geraldine]

Yes, these are mealy bugs.

The worst thing is that if they appeared once, then now you need to be especially careful and attentively. Always inspect the plants and carefully remove any whites.

Has anyone managed to get rid of them once and for all?

....I check the infested one everyday and it seems to be ok for now....

 

[Geraldine]

Yes indeed. Orthene 97% wettable powder as a drench.

Thanks for the advice ! I will keep in mind the name of the product.

 

[Geraldine]

clean off with rubbing alcohol, then treat. Good luck.

This is what I have done and it seems to be ok for the time being.... thank you

 

[Justin]

This is what I have done and it seems to be ok for the time being.... thank you

Your plant is still infested even if you don't see any right now. Use an insecticide.

 

[Lucienne]

@Justin thanks for your reply and congratulations on defeating the pest! In Russia, no one offers such insecticides ☹ I have not met anything with such active ingredients.

@Geraldine, stay alert! You may not see them for a couple of months, and then suddenly you will find a big colony.
In my case, I find them already on different plants.

 

[Geraldine]

Your plant is still infested even if you don't see any right now. Use an insecticide.

I am still checking the plant everyday and I have put it far away from the others.
I cross fingers then and I hope it will be ok