Edible Mushroom Disease Prevention and Control Methods and Key Points for Controlling Orchid Scale Insects in Summer and Autumn

Scale insects are the number one pest of orchids, mainly harming orchid leaves and stems, causing orchid leaves to turn yellow and withered, and even the entire plant to die. They reproduce for multiple generations a year, parasitize in hidden places, and are not easy to detect. Their bodies have a waxy shell, so chemicals cannot easily penetrate them, making complete eradication difficult. These characteristics have brought trouble to many orchid enthusiasts. Surveys have found that summer and autumn are the peak periods for scale insect reproduction and the seasons with the most severe damage. The following control methods have shown relatively good results.

From June to September, during the nymph hatching period, apply pesticide when the larvae have not yet formed a waxy shell and have weak resistance to chemicals. Use 40% methidathion emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution, etc. When spraying the pesticide, 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 2000 times dilution can also be added to simultaneously prevent orchid leaf spot disease; secondly, when scale insect larvae have already formed a waxy shell, use 1000 times dilution laundry detergent (fragrance-free and phosphorus-free) water, use a clean towel to wipe off the waxy shell with the prepared laundry detergent water, then spray the above pesticides. Spraying should strive to be comprehensive and thorough; the undersides of leaves, upper leaf surfaces, plant bases, pot surfaces, outer pot walls, orchid shelves, etc. should all be thoroughly sprayed. Thirdly, spray cultivation tools and sites with 2000 times dilution quicklime water to provide a sterilizing and disinfecting effect.

Symptoms of damage by adult scale insects

Symptoms of damage by scale insect adults and nymphs

Effects after pesticide application