What's eating my queen cattleya?

Queen Cattleya is primarily threatened by scale insects and mealybugs, which exploit the thick pseudobulb sheaths as shelter. Spider mites can flare in dry indoor air. Inspect pseudobulbs and roots at each watering, remove papery sheaths where pests hide, and treat early with alcohol or neem.

Brownish armored bumps or soft scales on pseudobulbs and leaf undersides; yellowing, poor growth Scrub off with isopropyl alcohol on a soft brush; treat with horticultural oil spray; check again after 3–4 weeks

White cottony masses in pseudobulb sheaths, leaf axils, and root zone; honeydew and sooty mold Remove sheaths harboring pests; dab colonies with rubbing alcohol; apply systemic insecticide (imidacloprid drench) for severe cases

Tiny yellow or silver specks across leaves; fine webbing under dry, warm conditions Raise ambient humidity; wipe leaves with a damp cloth; apply miticide or insecticidal soap on a weekly schedule

Adults are a nuisance; larvae chew fine roots in overly moist bark mix, stunting growth Allow bark medium to dry slightly between waterings; apply Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) drench; use yellow sticky traps