What I worry about is that some sort of small sucking insect is sucking into
the leaf and allowing the sap to drain out. I usually notice small sappy
droplets or dried sugar sap along the midrib or the edge of the leaf. Sure
enough if I turn the leaf over there'll be a scale on the underside, or in a
few days there'll be a scale at the leaf margin. Sometimes my first
indication of trouble is (like you did) by seeing sappy 'spray' on the
windowsill when I clean up the kitchen. (No comments about my house
cleaning, now! *G*) Then I'll have to treat the plant with something or
other until its gone.

Usually I'm one of those 'better living thru chemistry' kind of people. I
usually like to use some sort of a perticide in order to be sure. I usually
don't like just dabbing away with alcohol, because I believe these are sly,
conniving little critters that, just when you thik they're gone, they come
back, usually with a vengeance and in places that are a real pain in the
neck to get rid of them - like amongst the roots or under the p/bulb
sheathes. Talk about a pain!

But you are right. The sap comes practically from out of nowhere. Then
blammo! A few days later you see the adult and have to treat. Slow going
indeed. My paphs have mealy bug down in the bark, down amongst the dried
old leaves and along the roots and everytime I think I have a handle on them
they come back. Frustrating. I'm about to toss the lot of them.

K Barrett
"W. Clinton Terry" wrote in message
.. .
This sticky stuff, if left along will eventually cover most of the leaf.
I first noted it because it had dripped onto tile floor. I was walking
around one day in bare feet. I hae not used malathion, but have used the
Ortho oil spray to smother them. The seem to come back. I will try the
alcohol. What has puzzled me is that the sap seems to come from
nowhere...from just a tiny pore in the leave. In any event, it is very
slow going.

Clinton


"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
I think there are 2 kinds of scale. The harder outer shell ones, usually
dark brown, and the softer whiter colored ones. (I think these are called
boisduvial scale). I believe the pattern of noticing the sap with
progression to later seeing the adults at the leaf edges or in the leaf
axils is pretty typical for these insects. Treat with any pesticide that
kills scale. I used to use Malathion, but I believe that is slowly being
pulled from the market (at least here in California) I've used plain old
70% isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush, to kill the adults then wiped any
suspect areas for the next few weeks to be sure the eggs, larvae are gone,
as long as it was only one plant and isolated away from my main collection
(like a phal on the kitchen window insrtead of in the GH.) There are a
few good newer pesticides on the market (made by Bayer here in teh US)
that should kill them off, too. I confess when I look for those I have to
stand in the aisle at the nursery, seemingly for hours, reading the small
print until I find the one I want. Am I the only one or does Bayer's
product names all sound the same to everyone else, too?

K Barrett

"W. Clinton Terry" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of palenopsis that are secreting a sticky substance from
the middle of their leaves. It something like tree sap. If left alone,
eventually some scale like insects appear on the edge of the leaves.
There may be no relationship between these insects and the secretion.
Unlike other scale with which I am familiar, these appear wet. When you
crush them there is a lot of moisture involved. Other scales I have seen
and treated are dry and harder. Can anyone give me an idea what is
happening. I have sprayed with an Ortho Oil spray to no avail.

Thanks for any assistance you might be able to provide.

Clinton Terry