Tiny White Insects in the Soil of an Orchid

Springtails

• Small white insects found jumping in and around soil are probably springtails. These creatures are tiny (less than 1/16th of an inch) wingless insects belonging to the order Collembola, with a long or oval body. The insect uses a structure called a furcula on the underside of its body to help it jump forward. Springtails are not considered pests to plants, since they feed on decaying plant matter, but can be bothersome as their numbers increase. Repotting the orchid will usually solve the problem.

Scale Insects and Mealybugs

• Scale insects are a large group of true bugs belonging to the order Homoptera and the superfamily Coccoidea. These tiny, sap-sucking insects vary in color from white to crimson. Scale insects secrete a covering under which they hide and feed. Mealybugs are members of the scale family, and their waxy secretions often resemble tiny tufts of cotton. Scale insects are a serious pest to plants. If they are on or around an orchid, removal is necessary to ensure the health of the plant. Small infestations on the plant can be removed by regularly wiping the plant with a soft, soapy cloth or a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. If they persist, repot the plant and carefully dispose of the infested soil.

Thrips

• These minute insects belong to the order Thysanoptera. They have elongate bodies and four feathery wings. Most thrips feed on plant material, and many are serious pests to cultivated plants, particularly orchids. Their immature, or larval, form is wingless and found in vegetation or on soil near plant stems. Remove these orchid pests using the same method as for scale-insect infestations.

Other Insects

• Several other small white insects can inhabit orchid soil. Most tend to be the larval form of whiteflies, ants, flies, beetles or fungus gnats. If the plant appears healthy and continues to grow and flower regularly, insects in the soil are likely harmless. If the number of insects continues to increase and the orchid is showing signs of damage, carefully repot the plant.