Your most difficult pest

For years I have never had any problems with insects or disease. About (2) years ago I had a problem with fungus during the summer out side and also mealy bugs, this summer scale gave me some trouble, but if I had to pick the most troublesome pest it would be mealy bugs. I was just curious to what other growers are having trouble with and at what time of year.

Spider mites. Fingers crossed no early signs spotted for a while. Check cyms regualry as these are the first to get attacked. With it so rife and with widespread resistance I am suprized many have not encountered it. Barely visible to the eye so roll my eyes when people say theyve got them. Lethal to all plant collections. Dry and hot ideal conditions and breed fast fst fast. Lay eggs after 36 hrs old! And yes meant hours! So here summers out and in, and inside icold season as heating drys air and is perfect for them.

easy to research if needed.! Have observed that many US states suffer bad. Travel by air, and all contamination methods even bees birds moths and butterflies. Even that brand new plant you just acquired. Its a big stigma in horticultural/ agricultural circles. Not an insect so insecticides are waste of money and time. Miticides and prevention measures essential. Those naughty naughty plants that some grow get plagued by them and forums a plenty worrying about their......erm.......................stock!

Also this autumn just gone, a harmful pathogen wiped out most of my Stanhopeas. Nothing else affected and preferable over spider mite thats for sure.

I get thrips and mealy bugs more than anything else. However, now that I discovered the earswab and rubbing alcohol method they almost never survive long enough to get a foothold anymore. I take a plant I find them on and go over it leaf by leaf...top and bottom. I make sure I let the alcohol run down where the leaf meets pbulb. Then I check plants sitting next to the infected plant. These days I also spray alot...so bugs are no longer a problem.

Mites and bush snails are my two worst pests with mites the biggest irritant.

For me, the worst intruder I've had is definitely spider mites. They took persistence to get rid off. Now they better stay away...

Scales. during hot dry weather, these go crazy on soft-leaves orchids (oncidium and coelogyne alliance, gongora and paphs) and I almost always get a couple of plants deteriorate severely. Using neem oil spray to deter them.