Pest identification
What's eating my catasetum macrocarpum?
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or tan waxy bumps on pseudobulbs and stems; sticky honeydew residue, sooty mold follows
Control: Scrape off with a soft toothbrush dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray; repeat every 7–10 days
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters in leaf axils and at the base of pseudobulbs; yellowing and stunted new growth
Control: Dab each colony with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray as a follow-up
Spider mites
Signs: Fine silvery stippling on leaves; faint webbing on leaf undersides, worsens in low humidity
Control: Increase humidity; blast foliage with water; apply miticide or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3 cycles
Keep catasetum macrocarpum pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Catasetum macrocarpum pests — FAQ
What is eating my catasetum macrocarpum?
Catasetum macrocarpum, a deciduous tropical orchid, is most threatened by scale insects. As an indoor/greenhouse plant it also attracts mealybugs, spider mites during dry rest periods, and aphids on new growth. Scout pseudobulbs closely during the dry dormant season when natural plant defenses are lowest.
How do I get rid of scale insects on catasetum macrocarpum?
Brown or tan waxy bumps on pseudobulbs and stems; sticky honeydew residue, sooty mold follows Scrape off with a soft toothbrush dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray; repeat every 7–10 days
How do I get rid of mealybugs on catasetum macrocarpum?
White cottony clusters in leaf axils and at the base of pseudobulbs; yellowing and stunted new growth Dab each colony with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray as a follow-up
How do I get rid of spider mites on catasetum macrocarpum?
Fine silvery stippling on leaves; faint webbing on leaf undersides, worsens in low humidity Increase humidity; blast foliage with water; apply miticide or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3 cycles