Fresh green root tips gone missing - snails or other monsters?

[Delila]

A few of my orchids in hanging baskets have had big juicy new root tips suddenly vanish. They look like they've been chomped good, but by what?

The plants are in wooden slat baskets hanging on wires, hanging from a pergola. That's a long, complex, and I would think almost impossible climb for a snail. Is there anything else it could be?

[78Terp]

If you could post images, that always helps people make solid judgments.

[Delila]

It's tricky to take a photo of a thing that isn't there, but I've done my best .

The first is a Rhy., and the second a Vanda x Neo. They were such lovely green root tips!:

[ksriramkumar]

How is the relative humidity level in your grow area?. Investigate the crime scene to see if you could gather more clues. It could be a pest attack which could be anything from roach to slug or a grass hopper. you could spray imidacloprid a systemic insecticide.

[chingjervis]

yeah be the Sherlock Holmes. We do that also if something happens to our babies.

in my case, these are the culprits Roach and mice! These are the only two major chomping menace.

[joanaem]

Oh, dear!
Just had same problem. It was very unlikely for slugs on my growing space too..
was guessing fertilizer burn, but nonono.. found caterpillars on the pot!
Check out pic on my thread.. looks very like yours..
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...tips-gone.html

Best regards!

[Delila]

I think in my case back in Autumn it was snails. However, I have just had another round of this now, in early Summer. The most affected plants have orange insects on them that look like Pumpkin Beetles:

I'm pretty sure it was them. I guess those fresh root tips are very tasty to various critters.