The Cattleya fly is among the the most devastating of pests that might attack your orchid garden.. As a matter of fact, this pest is closely associated with orchids rather than any other family of plant, as you could readily guess from its scientific name, Eurytoma orchidearum.
Cattleya flies inject their eggs into the orchid plant’s young growths. The eggs hatch, with the nymphs (or maggots) going to work right away, feeding voraciously. The nymphs quickly swell to a grotesque size inside the bulbs. One sign that these maggots are doing their dirty work is that the bulbs will swell becoming club-shaped at the part where the pests are eating.
Eventually, the hungry little nymphs metamorphone into adult flies, which eat their way through the flesh of the bulbs to freedom. Adult flies are black in color, have transparent wings, and are approximately a quarter inch in length. Sadly, by the time you notice them, it could be too late to save many of your orchid plants. Nonetheless, you should attempt to kill all the flies you can before they get a chance to inject their eggs into your remaining healthy plants.
Abnormally swollen bulbs are a sign that a plant is already infested. In this event the best course is to cut off the bulbs. Then just drop the nymph or maggot into some water to drown it. It’s disheartening to have to cut away your plant’s young growth, but this is better than leaving your other plants open to being attacked by this 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 fortunately not especially common, and most orchid growers will never see them. Regardless, it is just good practice to inspect every new orchid for the signs of these flies and their maggots. Besides looking out for unusually enlarged bulbs where the fly’s nymphs might be feasting, inspect for minute holes where a female fly’s ovipositor might have inserted eggs into the plant. Absent such signs, you probably do not have a Cattleya fly problem.
To be truly successful growing orchids it is vital to understand how to deal with all of the various threats to your plants, including insects. It isn’t as hard to grow orchids as many people seem to believe, especially if you read up on how to properly care for these fascinating plants.
The most up-to-date guidebook to 21st-century orchid gardening, beyond question, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the web. Howard’s wonderful guide is a comprehensive education all by itself. And, you will find it perfect for those just starting out as well as more seasoned orchid cultivators. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which contains a growing database of postings on all facets of orchid cultivation.
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