Orchid Snails?

[Spruance]

Our indoor orchids seem to be covered with small brown lumps which secrete a sticky substance both onto the plants and the surrounding area. Having taken two extreme close up macro photos they almost appear to be like ponds snails or maybe even limpets....



Fortunately this is not life size, as better illustrated in the second photo with a single lettuce seed for comparison...



Does anyone happen to know what these are, and how best to get rid of them?

[andy]

It's scale insects mate. remove with your thumb or sometimes a cloth soaked in meths will get them off. There are systemic insecticides that do the job too.

They secrete a sugary substance called honeydew (similar to aphids) and a black mould growns on this.

Hope this helps

[Spruance]

Thanks very much Andy that's very helpful. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

I seem to recall seeing something OM posted about sponging leaves down with paraffin. Maybe that was the same thing.

I wonder if surgical spirit would work just as well? I think we have some of that - somewhere. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif

[Chuckles]

they look horrid Spruance

[Spruance]

Yes it was fascinating to see the photos on the screen for the first time, especially when you consider just how small they are.