Prevention and control of orchid pests and molluscs

Insects do harm to orchids in two aspects: one is to suck the liquid from the leaves of orchids, causing the leaves of orchids to curl. Yellowing, drying up and even death. The second is to spread bacteria and viruses to harm the orchid strain. Therefore, it is very important to control orchid pests. The main pests and molluscs that endanger orchids are as follows.

1. Scale insects

Scale insects, also known as scale insects, are mainly parasitic on leaves, and adults are covered with white or other color secretions (called shells), which are easy to identify. Mosquitoes not only suck the juice of orchids, but also cause diseases and affect photosynthesis.

Prevention and control method: remove the insect body manually, use a brush and then wash it with water. Drug prevention and treatment can be sprayed with omethoate and quick tonic. Improve ventilation conditions, avoid high temperature and humidity, can prevent the spread of shell insects.

2. Thrips

Thrips are one of the most important pests in orchids. Using nymphs and adults to suck the sap of leaf buds, flower buds and stamens seriously affected the growth of orchid seedlings and flowers, and even caused seedlings. The flowers withered and the petals curled and dried up.

Control method: spray with dichlorvos, omethoate, dimethoate and other pesticides. Due to the rapid reproduction of thrips, the peak period should be sprayed every 10 days to ensure orchid leaf buds. The flower buds grow normally.

3. Whitefly

The whitefly is small and has white waxy powder all over the body. It often gathers on the back of the leaves and absorbs sap, resulting in poor plant growth. Serious cases wither and die, and cause disease infection.

Control methods: whitefly propagates rapidly. After discovery, pesticides such as malathion, deltamethrin and dichlorvos should be sprayed and killed in time.

4. Mites

The mite is very small, less than 1 mm long, sucking leaf juice and root juice, spreading bacteria and viruses, and harming orchids.

Control methods: spraying triclofenac, propargite, bromoacarate, methotrexate and other pesticides.

5. Slugs, snails

Slugs and snails are molluscs, which are mostly nocturnal, eat orchid buds and tender leaves, and spread viruses and germs.

Prevention and control methods: first, artificial hunting; second, trapping with arsenic and trichlorfon plus bait (chaff, grass); and third, spreading quicklime to block the passage of snails and slugs.