It sounds like snails or slugs to me, too. Seedlings, new shoots, and buds
(soft tissue) are especially vunerable to snails and slugs. Use a small granule
type of snail/slug formula like That's It. Snail formulas for vegetables seem
to take a toll on orchids should the substance get into the crown.

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html

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dusty wrote:

Janet Price wrote in
:

Hi all,

Something's been eating a few small orchid buds and I've noticed an
odd insect--not sure if it's the culprit. It's a grey-brown crab-like
thing about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in size, sort of like a little stocky
spider that's decided to rise up on it's legs. I've seen them a
couple times now lurking around buds or flowers. The plants have been
outside, so I don't think it's an orchid pest per se. Tried google
but couldn't find it.

Is this the culprit or something benign? If it's a likely culprit,
how do I get rid of them?

THanks,

Janet



I checked some urls that I have and didn't find anything on the bug you
mention. however my guess is that you have a slug they hide in the media in
the daytime and chomp away at night and they come in all sizes.
here's some of the info I have

http://nathist.sdstate.edu/orchids/Pests/pests.htm
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/...0/article.html
http://www.orchid.org.uk/orchidproblems.htm

hope it helps