Can someone please tell me what these bugs are on my orchids and how can I prevent them from returning?!!!!!

SGB looks like a bad case of mealy bugs on your plant. they will suck the life out of it. The ones you can see, you can get with a Q tip dipped in alcohol , or make up a solution of equal parts 409 cleaning liquid and alcohol with a drop or two of dish soap and spray the plant top to bottom and everywhere in between...but there's an excellent chance ( like about 100%) that you won't be able to see them all! They like to hide in-between the leaves and even in the potting media. If you have other plants you should check them all as these guys can migrate pretty fast...isolate the one(s) with bugs you can see...treat what you can see with alcohol or even soapy water..but ( if it were my plant) I would want to apply some systemic product that the plant absorbs and when the bugs suck the plants juices...they get poisoned. I've always used Bayer 3 in 1 for roses on my plants, with good success...there are other folks here with much more experience and I'm sure they will chime in shortly. What ever product you use, make sure to read and follow the label directions and treat all your plants to contain the outbreak. Good luck and let us know how you make out!

I agree about mealy bugs and the suggested treatment. I have met these many times over the years. It is always a mystery to me how all your plants can be fine and healthy and all of a sudden there they are! Where do they come from (assuming, of course, you have not introduced some new plants). Other mysterious bad actors are spider mites - they suddenly appear and are hard to banish.

I think we all use the 3 in 1 for our orchids at some point, but you need to change things up. The 3 in 1 is systemic, so the bug has to bite it . Bugs will become immune to it in a short time, as they evolve fast. I would go with the alcohol to start with, and try soaps ( including insecticidal soap) which breaks down their waxy coating. The most important thing is to use whatever on an ongoing basis because you wont get all the bugs and their eggs in one shot. Keep it up and watch until there is no sign of them. Good air circulation is the best prevention, as it keeps the adults at bay.

SGB. Sorry your entry had to be buggy. Both Lindsey and Carol are spot on. I use a rotation of 3 in 1 and the soapy water thing. From a suggestion from another member I have recently added All Seasons Horticultural Spray oil to the mix.

Thanks Ted! I forgot about the oil.

I would wait until the weather is cooler to use any kind of oil treatment though. The oil on the leaves can make them super sensitive to sunlight.

I do use the All Seasons dormant oil spray, but only in winter when our temperatures are below about 75F.

Elaine, never thought of that
Thanx

Thank you all so much!!!! I'm gonna do exactly what you said.