Name this orchid scale

[jensoca]

This is the variety of scale that I cannot seem to eradicate. If anyone knows how to kill it please let me know. Thanks

[Wade's Orchids]

This looks like boisduval scale. It is very difficult to get rid of. Since your growing area seems to be attached to your house, you don't want a fogger or anything like that. Neem oil may work but it will take quite a few applications. I would unpot any plant that is badly affected and treat it bare root so you can cover the entire plant. These guys like to hide on roots. If it's really bad, scrub it with warm, soapy water before spraying. Sometimes you have to be brutal. If the plant looks like it won't make it get rid of it. Best of luck with this and please keep us informed.

[ksriramkumar]

Concur with Wade. I am afraid you would have to use a systemic insecticide.

[raybark]

The most effective treatment regimen I have found to-date is:

Orthene 97 (systemic insecticide, 97% acephate) @ 2 tablespoons/gallon mixed with Enstar AQ (insect growth regulator) @ 1 teaspoon per gallon. Repeat three times at weekly intervals, being certain to thoroughly wet every plant surface and drenching the pots.

Even with that, if I have a particularly badly-infected plant - "Typhoid Mary", being the source of future outbreaks - out it goes.

[Wade's Orchids]

Jennifer, scale is fatal to Equitants. If this is only on 1 or 2 plants I'd strongly consider pitching them. It is THAT bad.

[jensoca]

It has not yet gotten onto my equitant oncidiums, and I hope it doesn't I have been amassing species for years and it would kill me if I lost even one. This scale has mostly infested the catts and related hybrids. I have lost 2 leafless orchids too so I know all about how it likes roots. I think that is why I haven't been able to be rid of it. The picture I posted is of a sheath that was destroyed by the scale from my largest catt, it is a beauty and very large over 20 psuedobulbs. I pulled that off yesterday, I had no idea it was even that bad on that plant. I do not grow my plants in my home but in a greenhouse in a field adjacent to my home, that is how I got the fire ants. I am ordering new media today and will repot next week, hopefully by then I will be rid of the ants. This is all a result of my neglect this season I started back to school again and was too busy to do the preventative maintenance needed to stop this all from happening.
One more question, should I spray this on the plants before I repot or should I do it while the plants are still in their old media?

[Wade's Orchids]

I would unpot the plant, clean off all the old mix that you can, and then spray it before potting in new mix. That way you get the roots too. Also, remove any sheaths around the pseudobulbs. I would use Ray's suggestions since you are in a greenhouse. Orthene 97 and an insect growth regulator should do a good job. Be sure to wear gloves! Orthene is very good but also dangerous to humans. Good luck!

[jensoca]

Ok so after some research I was able to determine that I need two insecticides and a growth regulator as well as a large amount of rubbing alcohol. I am going to apply my first application later this afternoon of Malathion because I had to order the orthene and the enstar over the internet and they wont arrive until after Thanksgiving. I get shade on my greenhouse after three o'clock and I was going to spray then since I get sun from the earliest part of the day until then. Also, should I spray all the plants or remove the ones I see an infestation on and then spray them? My new potting media will be here tomorrow some time and I was going to repot on Wednesday, while doing this I was going to clean the plants with a rubbing alcohol solution to ensure that I got as mush as I can see off of the plants. How will this work with my mounted plants?

[Wade's Orchids]

I would hit all the plants as a precaution. You might get some negative results on flowers but as long as you don't mind that, hit em all. Treat mounted plants the same as those potted.