How to recognize a tick on an orchid? - briefly
Inspect the orchid for tiny, brown‑black, oval organisms attached to leaf veins or stems, often surrounded by silken webs or localized yellowing. A magnifier will reveal the tick’s segmented body and six visible legs, distinguishing it from fungal spots.
How to recognize a tick on an orchid? - in detail
Ticks on orchids are small arachnids, typically 1–5 mm in length, with a rounded body and eight legs. Their presence can be confirmed by observing the following characteristics:
- Visible bodies: Dark brown to reddish‑black oval shapes attached to stems, leaves, or roots. Adult ticks often sit near the base of the plant where moisture accumulates.
- Silky webbing: Fine, white or pale silk threads surrounding the tick, especially on leaf axils and near the crown. Webbing may also appear on the soil surface.
- Feeding marks: Small, circular, pale lesions where the tick’s mouthparts have pierced plant tissue. Lesions may enlarge over time, showing a yellowish halo.
- Excrement spots: Tiny, dark specks (tick feces) near the feeding site. These spots are often mistaken for fungal spores but are usually concentrated around the tick’s position.
- Plant reaction: Wilting, chlorosis, or necrosis localized to the area of infestation. Damage is typically confined to a few leaves rather than widespread.
Inspection routine
- Close visual survey – Examine each leaf, stem, and pseudobulb with a magnifying lens (10×–30×). Focus on leaf margins, undersides, and the junction between leaf and stem.
- Root check – Gently remove the orchid from its pot, rinse the root mass, and inspect for ticks clinging to the root surface or hidden in the root crown.
- Soil examination – Spread the growing medium on a white tray; look for detached ticks, silk, or fecal spots.
- Sticky trap placement – Position a yellow sticky card near the orchid for 24–48 hours. Captured specimens confirm active infestation.
- Specimen collection – Use a fine brush or tweezers to lift a suspect organism onto a glass slide. Observe under a compound microscope; ticks possess a hard dorsal shield (scutum) and lack the elongated bodies of mites.
Differentiation from similar pests
- Mites: Smaller (0.2–0.5 mm), elongated, often produce fine webbing across entire leaf surfaces. Ticks have a noticeably thicker body.
- Aphids: Soft, pear‑shaped, reproduce rapidly, and form dense colonies. Ticks remain solitary or in small groups.
- Scale insects: Sessile, appear as hard, shell‑like bumps attached to stems. Ticks are mobile and can be moved with a brush.
Confirmatory signs
- Presence of a capitulum (mouthparts) inserted into plant tissue, visible as a tiny, darker point within a feeding lesion.
- Observation of egg masses: Small, oval clusters attached to the plant’s underside, often concealed under silk.
By systematically applying these inspection steps and recognizing the listed visual cues, an orchid grower can accurately identify tick infestation and distinguish it from other common orchid pests.