Growing Orchids? Look Out for the Cattleya Fly!

The Cattleya fly is among the the most damaging of insects that can assault your orchids.. As a matter of fact, this pest is closely associated with orchids rather than any other kind 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 grow to a grotesque size inside the bulbs. One signal that these maggots are doing their damage is that the bulbs will swell becoming club-shaped at the location where the pests are munching away.

Finally, the nymphs turn into flies, which eat their way to the outside by chewing through the flesh of the bulbs. Adult Cattleya flies are very easy to recognize. They have clear wings and deep-black bodies, and are around a quarter inch long. Sadly, by the time you see them, it could be too late to save many of your plants. Nevertheless, you should always make an effort to kill the flies before they can get their eggs into your remaining healthy plants.

If some of your orchids are already infested, the best course of action is to cut away any bulbs you see that are abnormally swollen. Then, drown the nymph by dropping it into a bowl of water. 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.

Now here's some good news about Cattleya flies. They are fortunately not especially common, and most orchid growers will never see them. Still, it makes good sense to inspect every new orchid for the tell-tale signs of these flies and their maggots. Besides looking out for unusually swollen bulbs where the fly's nymphs might be feasting, inspect for minute holes where a female fly's ovipositor might have inserted her eggs into the plant. If you don't see any such signs, you are probably safe from Cattleya flies.

To be truly successful growing orchids it is vital to understand how to deal with all the various threats to your plants, including insects. It isn't as hard to grow orchids as many people want to believe, especially if you read up on how to properly care for these rewarding plants.

The most up-to-date guide to modern orchid growing, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded over the Internet. Mr. Howard's guide is a thorough course, enlightening for novices and the more seasoned fanciers alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets website, which is publishing an ever-expanding database of articles on all aspects of orchid cultivation.