Nasty Fly Pest Can Wreak Havoc on Orchids
The Cattleya fly is among the most potentially damaging creatures that couldinfest your orchids. In fact, this pest is intimately associated with orchids rather than any other kind of plant, as you might gather from its scientific name, Eurytoma orchidearum.
Cattleya flies lay their eggs in the young growths of the orchid plant. The eggs hatch, with the nymphs (or maggots) going to work right away, feeding voraciously. These nymphs soon swell to a huge size inside the orchid’s bulbs. One signal that these maggots are doing their nasty work is that the bulbs themselves will swell and become club-shaped at the location where the pests are eating.
Finally, the nymphs develp into adult flies, which eat their way to freedom by chewing through the flesh of the bulbs. Adult flies are black in color, have clear wings, and are about one-quarter inch in length. Sadly, by the time you see them, it could be too late to salvage many of your plants. Nonetheless, you should always make an effort to kill the flies before they can get their eggs into your remaining undamaged plants.
If some of your plants are already infested, the best solution is to cut away any bulbs you see that are abnormally swollen. Then, drown the nymph by dropping it into a bowl of water. It is discouraging to have to slice away a plant’s promising young growth, but it is better than leaving your other plants exposed to attack by the pest. With some luck, that plant that you did surgery to will produce a new bulb in place of the old one.
Here’s a little good news, though, as far as these nasty little pests. They are actually not very common, and most orchid cultivators will never encounter them. Still, it makes good sense to inspect every new orchid for the tell-tale signs of these flies and their maggots. Besides looking out for abnormally swollen bulbs where the fly’s nymphs might be eating, inspect for tiny holes where a female fly’s ovipositor might have inserted her eggs into the orchid. If you don’t see any such signs, you are probably safe from Cattleya flies.
To be really successful growing orchids it is vital to know how to deal with all the possible threats to your plants, including insects. It isn’t as tricky to grow orchids as many people seem to believe, especially if you first read up on how to properly care for these fascinating plants.
The most up-to-date guide to modern orchid cultivation, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the Internet. Howard’s wonderful guide constitutes a thorough education all to itself. And, it’s perfect for neophytes as well as more seasoned orchid cultivators. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets website, which features an ever-growing database of articles on all aspects of orchid care.
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