Biological Controls of Orchid Pests
Orchids are extremely attractive plants to grow. They have unique growth habits and flowers that range from stunning to bizarre. Unfortunately, they are also attractive to pests.
There are a wide range of chemical controls available, but there are a number of biological controls of orchid pests, as well. Those can be in the form of predatory insects – those that kill the pests without inflicting damage on the plants – or in the form of microbes that infect and kill the pests. In the table below, I’ll try to offer a few in each category, organized by the pest to be controlled.
Fungus Gnat | |
Predatory Insects | Atheta coriaria, Stratiolaelaps scimitus, Steinernema feltiae |
Microbes | Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis |
Thrip | |
Predatory Insects | Neoseiulus cucumeris, Amblyseius swirskii, Orius insidiosis, Stratiolaelaps scimitus, Steinernema feltiae |
Microbes | Beauveriana bassiana, Isaria fumosorsea |
Aphid | |
Predatory Insects | Aphidius spp., Chrysoperla spp., Adalia bipunctata, Aphidoletes aphydemyza |
Microbes | Beauveriana bassiana, Isaria fumosorsea |
Mealybug | |
Predatory Insects | Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Chrysoperla spp. |
Microbes | Beauveria brongniartii |
Whitefly | |
Predatory Insects | Amblyseius swirskii, Encarsia formosa, Eretmocerus eremicus, Delphastus |
Microbes | Beauveriana bassiana, Isaria fumosorsea |
Two-spotted Spider Mite | |
Predatory Insects | Phytoseiulus persimilis, Feltiella acarisuga, Mesoseiulus longipes, Galendromus occidentalis, Neoseiulus fallacis, Amblyseius californicus, Amblyseius andersoniae |
Broad Mite | |
Predatory Insects | Neoseiulus cucumeris, Amblyseius swirskii, Amblyseius californicus |