so i seem to have nymphs in some of my humidity trays.... they're
teeny tiny black things doing that classic black-flip swimming move.
they're smaller than the hyphen in the previous sentence. they
appeared *after* i washed the trays (they're pyrex baking dishes--they
go in the dishwasher). i keep dumping them and rinsing them, but the
bugs still appear. (fewer in number, but they're there.) i washed all
the plastic pipe fittings and hardware cloth boxes that the plants sit
on in the trays too; clearly some eggs got laid someplace. anyone
seen this before? how do fungus gnats propagate? i can't think of
any aquatic-type bugs that have been hanging around the orchids (which
are on the window seat in my living room--controlled environment).

thoughts? i'd rather not have to dump any major chemicals in the
trays... thx!

--j_a

Hello & welcome Janet,
First off, we have to send this little back flipping diver to the
Olympics! *G*
It seems the little bugs are coming from one or some of your plants.
Have you aquired a new plant lately? If so it's probably the infested
one.
(This is why we should isolate new plants, especially when using trays)
Wish I could help with more info but maybe someone else will.
--
Cheers Wendy

Remove PETERPAN for email reply

janet_a wrote:
so i seem to have nymphs in some of my humidity trays.... they're
teeny tiny black things doing that classic black-flip swimming move.
they're smaller than the hyphen in the previous sentence. they
appeared *after* i washed the trays (they're pyrex baking dishes--they
go in the dishwasher). i keep dumping them and rinsing them, but the
bugs still appear. (fewer in number, but they're there.) i washed all
the plastic pipe fittings and hardware cloth boxes that the plants sit
on in the trays too; clearly some eggs got laid someplace. anyone
seen this before? how do fungus gnats propagate? i can't think of
any aquatic-type bugs that have been hanging around the orchids (which
are on the window seat in my living room--controlled environment).

thoughts? i'd rather not have to dump any major chemicals in the
trays... thx!

--j_a

Could be mosquito larvae? Not that I know anything about mosquitos
other than the fact that they ate me alive while I was fishing this
weekend. But regardless, if it really freaks you out, put a few drops
of dish detergent in each tray. Or a few tablespoons of bleach. Use
the 'lemon-fresh' kind, it will smell nice.

Remember that you don't have to worry about harming your plants, since
the bugs are in the humidity tray. That water should never touch your
plants. That isn't a license to go out and apply industrial solvents,
but you can be a bit more aggressive than you might otherwise be. A
little detergent wouldn't hurt your plants, anyway. You might want to
spray your plants with a little soap and water mixture while you are at
it, just in case the critters are coming from the plants and not the air.

Rob

janet_a wrote:

so i seem to have nymphs in some of my humidity trays.... they're
teeny tiny black things doing that classic black-flip swimming move.
they're smaller than the hyphen in the previous sentence. they
appeared *after* i washed the trays (they're pyrex baking dishes--they
go in the dishwasher). i keep dumping them and rinsing them, but the
bugs still appear. (fewer in number, but they're there.) i washed all
the plastic pipe fittings and hardware cloth boxes that the plants sit
on in the trays too; clearly some eggs got laid someplace. anyone
seen this before? how do fungus gnats propagate? i can't think of
any aquatic-type bugs that have been hanging around the orchids (which
are on the window seat in my living room--controlled environment).

thoughts? i'd rather not have to dump any major chemicals in the
trays... thx!

--j_a




--
Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a. See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase
more orchids, obtain more credit
LittlefrogFarm is open - e-mail me for a list )

rob, wendy, thx for your responses; only new plant is at least a month
old now, and was repotted and dunked and washed and ultrafined the day
i got it home and kept away from the other plants for a good two
weeks. the critters are in several trays and literally appeared in the
space of a few hours on sunday; i may take a crack at the bleach
thing. i always use water straight from the tap for the trays (i air
off the water i give the plants) in the hopes of keeping the algae
down; while i have a certain morbid curiousity as to what these things
might grow into, i guess i better not find out. (they're way too
small to be mosquito nymphs, thanks heavens.

i'd been hoping to avoid having to ultrafine all the orchids again
(had to do the amaryllii last month for scale but, well, -sigh-.

--j_a

Hi, Janet,

You might want to consider the possibility that the critters are also *in*
your pots. Next time you need to water, you might pour through a mixture of
alcohol, soap and water.

Diana

The following are harmless "alcohol, soap and water" as well as Schultz's Expert
Gardener (found at most Von's stores and made from Chrysanthemum flowers) both
Fruits and Vegetable Insect Spray. In addition I use Neem Oil once in a while
as a volunteer tomato plant came up in the Fall and has been producing
henceforth; therefore, I can't use anything toxic in my greenhouse.

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diana Kulaga wrote:

Hi, Janet,

You might want to consider the possibility that the critters are also *in*
your pots. Next time you need to water, you might pour through a mixture of
alcohol, soap and water.

Diana

diane and pam.... (and anyone else who would care to weigh in

all my phals are in sphag. will a drench of the alc/soap conconction
harm the sphag? and should i avoid doing the seedlings? (2 phals, one
phrag in tiny bark.) thx!

--j_a

(am googling, therefore the responses to myself instead of you.

Yes, the soap will ruin the sphag, or shorten its life, anyway.

You're better off with a commercial insecticide like Orthene WP.

--

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

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"janet_a" wrote in message
om...
diane and pam.... (and anyone else who would care to weigh in

all my phals are in sphag. will a drench of the alc/soap conconction
harm the sphag? and should i avoid doing the seedlings? (2 phals, one
phrag in tiny bark.) thx!

--j_a

(am googling, therefore the responses to myself instead of you.

I too think I'd be inclined to suspect mosquitoes especially if the water in
your trays stands for more than 4 or 5 days between rinsings. Adding water
to them to maintain the desired level, even chlorinated, is the same as
undisturbed, standing water. The little buggers grow quickly. A quick rinse
and refill may leave some eggs/larvae behind.

I would also keep an eye on your other plants just in case.

Jim

"Rob Halgren" wrote in message
...
Could be mosquito larvae? Not that I know anything about mosquitos
other than the fact that they ate me alive while I was fishing this
weekend. But regardless, if it really freaks you out, put a few drops
of dish detergent in each tray. Or a few tablespoons of bleach. Use
the 'lemon-fresh' kind, it will smell nice.

Remember that you don't have to worry about harming your plants, since
the bugs are in the humidity tray. That water should never touch your
plants. That isn't a license to go out and apply industrial solvents,
but you can be a bit more aggressive than you might otherwise be. A
little detergent wouldn't hurt your plants, anyway. You might want to
spray your plants with a little soap and water mixture while you are at
it, just in case the critters are coming from the plants and not the air.

Rob

janet_a wrote:

so i seem to have nymphs in some of my humidity trays.... they're
teeny tiny black things doing that classic black-flip swimming move.
they're smaller than the hyphen in the previous sentence. they
appeared *after* i washed the trays (they're pyrex baking dishes--they
go in the dishwasher). i keep dumping them and rinsing them, but the
bugs still appear. (fewer in number, but they're there.) i washed all
the plastic pipe fittings and hardware cloth boxes that the plants sit
on in the trays too; clearly some eggs got laid someplace. anyone
seen this before? how do fungus gnats propagate? i can't think of
any aquatic-type bugs that have been hanging around the orchids (which
are on the window seat in my living room--controlled environment).

thoughts? i'd rather not have to dump any major chemicals in the
trays... thx!

--j_a




--
Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a. See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase
more orchids, obtain more credit
LittlefrogFarm is open - e-mail me for a list )

"Jim Saitman" wrote in message . com...
"Ray" wrote in message
...


well, i went with the bleach in the trays thing, and they died, and
then disppeared. i'm reasonably certain they're not skeeters (i *did*
have them in the birdbath this morning--quite a different animal) but
i'm keeping a close eye on things.

i'm trying to avoid doing anything to the plants, primarily because
i'm lazy; haven't used orthene in about thirty years. i was surprised
to see they're still selling sevin--i thought that stuff was banned.

i'm just going to watch and hope that nothing else turns up.

--j_a

uckoff (theoneflasehaddock) wrote in message ...

Midges may also be a possibility. They are similar to mosquitos, but don't bite
people, and are a little smaller usually. They suck plant juices, and have
aquatic larvae similar to mosquitos.

-

theoneflasehaddock

hmm. i will keep an eye out.....

--j_a

I too think I'd be inclined to suspect mosquitoes especially if the water in
your trays stands for more than 4 or 5 days between rinsings. Adding water
to them to maintain the desired level, even chlorinated, is the same as
undisturbed, standing water. The little buggers grow quickly. A quick rinse
and refill may leave some eggs/larvae behind.

I would also keep an eye on your other plants just in case.

Jim

"Rob Halgren" wrote in message
...
Could be mosquito larvae? Not that I know anything about mosquitos
other than the fact that they ate me alive while I was fishing this
weekend. But regardless, if it really freaks you out, put a few drops
of dish detergent in each tray. Or a few tablespoons of bleach. Use
the 'lemon-fresh' kind, it will smell nice.

Remember that you don't have to worry about harming your plants, since
the bugs are in the humidity tray. That water should never touch your
plants. That isn't a license to go out and apply industrial solvents,
but you can be a bit more aggressive than you might otherwise be. A
little detergent wouldn't hurt your plants, anyway. You might want to
spray your plants with a little soap and water mixture while you are at
it, just in case the critters are coming from the plants and not the air.

Rob

janet_a wrote:

so i seem to have nymphs in some of my humidity trays.... they're
teeny tiny black things doing that classic black-flip swimming move.
they're smaller than the hyphen in the previous sentence. they
appeared *after* i washed the trays (they're pyrex baking dishes--they
go in the dishwasher). i keep dumping them and rinsing them, but the
bugs still appear. (fewer in number, but they're there.) i washed all
the plastic pipe fittings and hardware cloth boxes that the plants sit
on in the trays too; clearly some eggs got laid someplace. anyone
seen this before? how do fungus gnats propagate? i can't think of
any aquatic-type bugs that have been hanging around the orchids (which
are on the window seat in my living room--controlled environment).

thoughts? i'd rather not have to dump any major chemicals in the
trays... thx!

--j_a




--
Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a. See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase
more orchids, obtain more credit
LittlefrogFarm is open - e-mail me for a list )

"Jim Saitman" wrote in message . com...
"Ray" wrote in message
...


well, i went with the bleach in the trays thing, and they died, and
then disppeared. i'm reasonably certain they're not skeeters (i *did*
have them in the birdbath this morning--quite a different animal) but
i'm keeping a close eye on things.

i'm trying to avoid doing anything to the plants, primarily because
i'm lazy; haven't used orthene in about thirty years. i was surprised
to see they're still selling sevin--i thought that stuff was banned.

i'm just going to watch and hope that nothing else turns up.

--j_a

Rob Halgren wrote:
Could be mosquito larvae? Not that I know anything about mosquitos
other than the fact that they ate me alive while I was fishing this
weekend. But regardless, if it really freaks you out, put a few drops
of dish detergent in each tray. Or a few tablespoons of bleach. Use
the 'lemon-fresh' kind, it will smell nice.

Remember that you don't have to worry about harming your plants, since
the bugs are in the humidity tray. That water should never touch your
plants. That isn't a license to go out and apply industrial solvents,
but you can be a bit more aggressive than you might otherwise be. A
little detergent wouldn't hurt your plants, anyway. You might want to
spray your plants with a little soap and water mixture while you are at
it, just in case the critters are coming from the plants and not the air.
Rob

janet_a wrote:

so i seem to have nymphs in some of my humidity trays.... they're
teeny tiny black things doing that classic black-flip swimming move.
they're smaller than the hyphen in the previous sentence. they
appeared *after* i washed the trays (they're pyrex baking dishes--they
go in the dishwasher). i keep dumping them and rinsing them, but the
bugs still appear. (fewer in number, but they're there.) i washed all
the plastic pipe fittings and hardware cloth boxes that the plants sit
on in the trays too; clearly some eggs got laid someplace. anyone
seen this before? how do fungus gnats propagate? i can't think of
any aquatic-type bugs that have been hanging around the orchids (which
are on the window seat in my living room--controlled environment).

thoughts? i'd rather not have to dump any major chemicals in the
trays... thx!

--j_a




just put a drop or 2 of dishwashing detergent in the humidity tray--the
detergent will "wet" the water so it flows onto the insects
body--preventing oxygen from entering the bugs and they die--just a
small amount is needed

Rob Halgren wrote:
Could be mosquito larvae? Not that I know anything about mosquitos
other than the fact that they ate me alive while I was fishing this
weekend. But regardless, if it really freaks you out, put a few drops
of dish detergent in each tray. Or a few tablespoons of bleach. Use
the 'lemon-fresh' kind, it will smell nice.

Remember that you don't have to worry about harming your plants, since
the bugs are in the humidity tray. That water should never touch your
plants. That isn't a license to go out and apply industrial solvents,
but you can be a bit more aggressive than you might otherwise be. A
little detergent wouldn't hurt your plants, anyway. You might want to
spray your plants with a little soap and water mixture while you are at
it, just in case the critters are coming from the plants and not the air.
Rob

janet_a wrote:

so i seem to have nymphs in some of my humidity trays.... they're
teeny tiny black things doing that classic black-flip swimming move.
they're smaller than the hyphen in the previous sentence. they
appeared *after* i washed the trays (they're pyrex baking dishes--they
go in the dishwasher). i keep dumping them and rinsing them, but the
bugs still appear. (fewer in number, but they're there.) i washed all
the plastic pipe fittings and hardware cloth boxes that the plants sit
on in the trays too; clearly some eggs got laid someplace. anyone
seen this before? how do fungus gnats propagate? i can't think of
any aquatic-type bugs that have been hanging around the orchids (which
are on the window seat in my living room--controlled environment).

thoughts? i'd rather not have to dump any major chemicals in the
trays... thx!

--j_a




just put a drop or 2 of dishwashing detergent in the humidity tray--the
detergent will "wet" the water so it flows onto the insects
body--preventing oxygen from entering the bugs and they die--just a
small amount is needed