I've won the war of the bugs ...at least two of the three.

Using Enstar and Malathion I've managed to eliminate hard scale and mealie
bugs. It's been six months and I haven't seen either.

I'm still seeing breakouts of soft scale. It starts as little white patches
(like tiny grains of rice) and in a couple of days I see the scale. It's
mostly on the cattleyas and a few Oncids.

I spray and clean but can't seem to erradicate them for good. Any
suggestions?

Good Growing,
Gene

On Sat, 03 Sep 2005 23:13:10 GMT in a6qSe.2653$Di4.2137@trnddc07 Gene Schurg wrote:
I've won the war of the bugs ...at least two of the three.

Using Enstar and Malathion I've managed to eliminate hard scale and mealie
bugs. It's been six months and I haven't seen either.

I'm still seeing breakouts of soft scale. It starts as little white patches
(like tiny grains of rice) and in a couple of days I see the scale. It's
mostly on the cattleyas and a few Oncids.

I spray and clean but can't seem to erradicate them for good. Any
suggestions?

Do you have any idea where the soft scale beasties have been
hatching from?
Have you considered using an anti-feedant like neem?
Are you willing to try CO2 on a couple and let us know the results
(Because if the eggs are in the media, in theory the CO2 should kill them
as well)?


--
Chris Dukes
Suspicion breeds confidence -- Brazil

Hi Gene,
I used Enstar II & Mavrik, two years ago & I thought I had the scale
beat.
I followed the two programs, curative & preventative, to a tee. The scale
has just
broken out again (babies).
Most of my plants are in dire need of repotting so I may try dipping
this time.
Expensive stuff but it does work if you follow directions & keep up the
regimen.
Bottom line, once one has the beasties they are never entirely eradicated.

--
Cheers Wendy

Remove PETERPAN for email reply

Gene Schurg wrote:
I've won the war of the bugs ...at least two of the three.

Using Enstar and Malathion I've managed to eliminate hard scale and
mealie bugs. It's been six months and I haven't seen either.

I'm still seeing breakouts of soft scale. It starts as little white
patches (like tiny grains of rice) and in a couple of days I see the
scale. It's mostly on the cattleyas and a few Oncids.

I spray and clean but can't seem to erradicate them for good. Any
suggestions?

Good Growing,
Gene

Gene,

Either you've got an outside source that is reinfesting your collection, or
you simply didn't get 'em all the first time.

I have found Enstar II to be one of the most reliable eradicants of
boisduval scale.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
news:a6qSe.2653$Di4.2137@trnddc07...
I've won the war of the bugs ...at least two of the three.

Using Enstar and Malathion I've managed to eliminate hard scale and mealie
bugs. It's been six months and I haven't seen either.

I'm still seeing breakouts of soft scale. It starts as little white
patches
(like tiny grains of rice) and in a couple of days I see the scale. It's
mostly on the cattleyas and a few Oncids.

I spray and clean but can't seem to erradicate them for good. Any
suggestions?

Good Growing,
Gene

Ray,

How long is Enstar viable after you open the bottle? I've had the current
bottle about a year. I keep it tightly sealed and in the basement (cool and
dark).

I know when it is mixed it only lasts a day or two, but unmixed?

Gene



"Ray" wrote in message
...
Gene,

Either you've got an outside source that is reinfesting your collection,
or
you simply didn't get 'em all the first time.

I have found Enstar II to be one of the most reliable eradicants of
boisduval scale.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
news:a6qSe.2653$Di4.2137@trnddc07...
I've won the war of the bugs ...at least two of the three.

Using Enstar and Malathion I've managed to eliminate hard scale and
mealie
bugs. It's been six months and I haven't seen either.

I'm still seeing breakouts of soft scale. It starts as little white
patches
(like tiny grains of rice) and in a couple of days I see the scale.
It's
mostly on the cattleyas and a few Oncids.

I spray and clean but can't seem to erradicate them for good. Any
suggestions?

Good Growing,
Gene

I have no idea, Gene. I recently used material from a bottle I bought in
April of 2004, and it seems to be good. Mines sealed in the basement, too.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
news:aaDSe.11997$QN4.2039@trnddc02...
Ray,

How long is Enstar viable after you open the bottle? I've had the current
bottle about a year. I keep it tightly sealed and in the basement (cool
and
dark).

I know when it is mixed it only lasts a day or two, but unmixed?

Gene



"Ray" wrote in message
...
Gene,

Either you've got an outside source that is reinfesting your collection,
or
you simply didn't get 'em all the first time.

I have found Enstar II to be one of the most reliable eradicants of
boisduval scale.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
news:a6qSe.2653$Di4.2137@trnddc07...
I've won the war of the bugs ...at least two of the three.

Using Enstar and Malathion I've managed to eliminate hard scale and
mealie
bugs. It's been six months and I haven't seen either.

I'm still seeing breakouts of soft scale. It starts as little white
patches
(like tiny grains of rice) and in a couple of days I see the scale.
It's
mostly on the cattleyas and a few Oncids.

I spray and clean but can't seem to erradicate them for good. Any
suggestions?

Good Growing,
Gene

Can anyone tell me whether liquid pyriproxyfen, an Insect Growth
Regulator, is safe for orchids? I will need to treat my orchids soon
before I bring them in for the winter. I want to eliminate any scale or
other nasties which might be lurking. I have a bottle of Archer IGR
(pyriproxyfen). Supposedly a micro-encapsulated form of pyriproxyfen
can be used on orchids, but I have not been able to find anything about
the liquid form.


I don't want to have to shell out $100 for Enstar II, especially not
after buying the Archer for $57. (It was to control fleas in the
yard--lots of stray cats around here.)


J. Del Col

I cannot answer your question, but is an IGR appropriate action before
bringing in plants?

Most IGRs do not kill adults, so any insects landing on your plants after
your treatments might just come right in untouched.

I would think that an out-and-out killer insecticide just before bringing
them in would be a better choice, followed by the IGR to prevent maturation
of eggs and larvae the insecticide missed.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"jadel" wrote in message
oups.com...

Can anyone tell me whether liquid pyriproxyfen, an Insect Growth
Regulator, is safe for orchids? I will need to treat my orchids soon
before I bring them in for the winter. I want to eliminate any scale or
other nasties which might be lurking. I have a bottle of Archer IGR
(pyriproxyfen). Supposedly a micro-encapsulated form of pyriproxyfen
can be used on orchids, but I have not been able to find anything about
the liquid form.


I don't want to have to shell out $100 for Enstar II, especially not
after buying the Archer for $57. (It was to control fleas in the
yard--lots of stray cats around here.)


J. Del Col

Ray wrote:
I cannot answer your question, but is an IGR appropriate action before
bringing in plants?

Most IGRs do not kill adults, so any insects landing on your plants after
your treatments might just come right in untouched.

I would think that an out-and-out killer insecticide just before bringing
them in would be a better choice, followed by the IGR to prevent maturation
of eggs and larvae the insecticide missed.


That's pretty much what I plan to do; I just wonder about the safety
of liquid pyriproxyfen.

Thanks.


J. Del Col