September 2014 Volume 54 Number 8

Visiting Society in September

Bribie Island Orchid Society

John Oxley Orchid Society

President Mr. Albert Gibbard albertgibbard@optusnet.com.au 07 3269 1631

Secretary Mrs. Maree Illingworth qos.secretary@bigpond.com 07 3800 3213 Treasurer Mr. Nick Woolley nmwoolley@optusnet.com.au 07 3201 6414

Editor Mr. Kev Horsey qos.editor@optusnet.com.au 07 3281 9203

Judges for Q.O.S. General Meeting on 8th September 2014

Les Lobley. Les Burrow. John Rooks. Arther Cornell. Adrian Bergstrum. Ken Webster.

Judging Starts 7.45

Next Committee Meeting at 10 am 15th Sept, 2014

Reg & Maree Illingworth’s Home at

51 Lionheart St Forestdale

Next General Meeting at 8pm on 8th Sept, 2014

Venue: Red Hill Community Sports Centre

22 Fulcher Road, Red Hill, QLD 4059

August Meeting Information

Guest Speaker is Phil’s Organic’s

The Subject is Organic Gardening

The Queensland Orchid Society Inc. founded on Wednesday, 24th January 1934

Members who contribute to this Bulletin endeavor to assure the reliability of its contents.

Any cultural advice provided is a guide only and may not suit individual growers.

It is the responsibility of the individual to validate such advice before applying suggested methods.

The Society welcomes potential members to come to the general meetings as our guests, and advises those wishing to join

us, that subscription fees (in Australian Dollars) are

$20 for a single, $25 for a family from 1st January

$10 for a single, $12.50 for a family from 1st July

Other Orchid Societies interested in affiliating with us are advised that Society Affiliation is $30

Payable on the 1st January each year.

PO Box 126

Browns Plains BC QLD 4118

Australia 80

YEARS YEARS

Affiliated Societies, Judging Roster for September

John Oxley O.S. 2nd Wednesday @ 7.30pm Don Nitschinsk. Reg Illingworth. Maree Illingworth.

Brisbane O.S. 4th Monday @ 7.45pm Les Burow. .................. ............................

Beaudesert O & F.S. 3rd Wednesday @ 7.30pm Adrian Bergstrum. Les Burow .....................

Logan & District 3rd Tuesday @ 7.45pm Les Burrow. Don Nitschinsk. Jean Rutherford

Eastern District O.S 4th Thursday @ 8pm Les Vickers. Les Burow

2

QUEENSLAND ORCHID SOCIETY INC.

GENERAL MEETING Red Hill Sports Club, 22 Fulcher Road, Red Hill

Minutes Monday, 11th August, 2014

The President, Albert Gibbard, declared the meeting open at 8.00 pm and welcomed the

members and Judges.

The Judges were Helen Edwards, Gary Yong Gee, Les Burrow & Athol Rosenberg.

Apologies: As per the attendance book.

Raffle: Albert announced details of the raffle for the evening and prompted members to obtain their tickets. Alf Filia sold

the raffle tickets, thank you Alf. Raffle prizes were later presented.

Correspondence: Members were advised that the Committee had attended to all routine correspondence. Notice of Soci-

ety shows, Schedules, Newsletters and other sundry notices were on the notice table.

Financial Report: Our Treasurer, Nick Woolley, presented the financial report for the month of August, 2014 and moved

acceptance. The report was seconded by Margaret Tierney.

The Treasurer’s report was on the notice table for Members to read.

Visiting Society - There were no Visiting Societies.

Supper was then served. Thank you to Margaret Horsey and her helpers for the excellent variety of tasty food, tea & coffee.

The Speaker this evening was Gary Yong Gee, who presented a programme and commentary on the Bulbophyllum Alliance.

A first class presentation, enjoyed by all.

Albert thanked Gary for his efforts and presented him with the speakers fee.

Gary then asked QOS to give the speaker's fee to the Australian Orchid Foundation. Our Treasurer will see to this.

The Speaker for the month of September will be Phil's Organics. This should be interesting, different types of products will

be shown and explained.

Albert mentioned the "Christmas in July Dinner" bus trip, which was on the 20th July going to the Tarampa Hotel. Albert

said everyone had a great day, food was good, music & singers were great, Santa & his helper visited with gifts for everyone.

The "QOS 80th Anniversary Orchid" was very popular, each family received a plant, thanks to Albert.

Nick Woolley drew out 8 raffle tickets, the winners each won a well grown orchid plant or other.

The Plant of Special Interest selected was Corysanthes fimbriata owned by Gary Yong Gee.

The first prize winner of Judges Choice Hybrid was Phal. I-Hsin Actor owned by Gordon Grant and first prize winner in

Judges Choice Species was Phal. amabilis also owned by Gordon Grant.

Thank you to Les Burrow for doing the plant commentary.

DISPLAY AT THE EXHIBITION:

The Southern Region Orchid Societies' stand at the Exhibition was a credit to the growers who presented such well grown,

interesting varieties of orchids. The display looked wonderful after the orchids were placed in their various categories

Thanks to Barry & Ann Kable and also Albert for organising the transport to the Ecka, and all the people who helped in any

way. Special thanks to Helen Murray for the beautiful Floral Art.

Gordon Grant is organising a Membership drive on 13th & 14th September at Bunnings, Stafford City. Gordon needs work-

ers for different shifts to man the stand and help with Orchid advice

Laurie Baxter will do potting demonstrations.. Please speak to Gordon if you can help in any way and he will explain in

detail what has to be done.

Lucky Exhibitor was Charlie & Helen Edwards.

Albert thanked Pam Price & Ann Kable for attending to the benching lists. Albert also thanked all those who helped set up

the hall.

Closure: As there was no further business the President closed the meeting at approx. 10pm and wished all members and

visitors a safe journey home.

Our next General meeting is on Monday, 8th September 2014 at 8pm, at the Red Hill Community Sports Centre, Red Hill.

3

SPECIAL INTEREST PLANT OF THE MONTH

AUGUST 2014

Plant Name Corysanthes fimbriata (Syn. Corybas fimbriata)

Exhibitor's Plant Number 35 Owner's Name Gary Yong Gee Judges Comments: Unusual plant not often seen on

the benches.

Owners Comments: Housing: Solar weave and

shade cloth covered greenhouse. Open on one side during Summer to allow air flow. Watering: Every 3 days from when new leaf emerges around February until plant dies down after flowering (approximately October). Nil when dormant. Feeding Program: Dynamic Lifter - a small amount is added to potting mix at the time of re-potting. No other fertiliser is given. Potting Medium: Two parts Brunnings potting mix (not Bunnings, but available from Bunnings) plus one part river sand and a small amount of Dynamic Lifter at re-potting time. Other Cultural Comments: Do not allow to dry out when growing. Keep dry when dormant. Re-pot annually using half of old mix and half new mix with some Dynamic Lifter. Keep an eye out for red spider mite and treat accordingly with Miticide if necessary. Cover flowering plants with clear cover so flowers last longer, otherwise low humidity causes early flower collapse.

Presidents Report We missed most of you at the last meeting due to illness and only had 24 members to listen to a world class presentation by Gary Yong Gee, If you want other types of programmes please let me know. In September we have Phil’s Organics this presentation is not about Orchids but is very good, he has a lot of products sell. Looking forward to seeing you there. Regards Albert

From the Committee

It was decided to allow non members to sell plants if they bench at least 2 plants at QOS

shows

Visitors can sell unlimited flowering plants, 24 non flowering plants but no foliage

plants

4

JUDGES’ CHOICE - HYBRID

1 Phal. I-Hsin Actor Grant G

2 Cym. Bulbarrow 'Maid Marion' Rosenberg A 3 Paph. Mary Franz Smith Tierney M

JUDGES’ CHOICE - SPECIES 1 Phal amabilis Grant G 2 Paph. venustum Yong Gee G 3 Rhyncholaelia glauca Westphal M

CATTLEYA EXHIBITION OVER 90mm 1 Rlc. Burdekin Dawn Rutter J & H 2 Rlc. Redland Pride Edwards H & C 3 Rlc. Memoria Gordon Vallance Filia A

CATTLEYA EXHIBITION UP TO 90mm 1 C. Dal's Tradition Rutter J & H 2 C. Walkeriana 'Kenny' x 'Puaneai' Rutter J & H 3 Rth. Dal's Delight x C. Royal Beau 'Alex' Rutter J & H

CATTLEYA NON-EXHIBITION 1 Bc. Yellow Bird Edwards H &C

PAPHIOPEDILUM OTHER 1 Paph. Mary Franz Smith Tierney M 2 Paph. Sunlit Meadows Tierney M

ONCIDIUM ALLIANCE 1 Alcra. Flying High 'Stars 'n Bars' Rutter J & H 2 Onc. Space Mine 'Red' Illingworth R & M

VANDACEOUS

1 (Sarco. hartmannii x Srts. Blue Knob) x Rhy. retusa

Tierney M

2 Srts. Braveheart Tierney M .3 Prichard Delight Grant G

CYMBIDIUM: 1 Cym. Bulbarrow 'Maid Marion' Rosenberg A

PHALAENOPSIS 1 Phal. I-Hsin Actor Grant G 2 Phal. King Car Wintertime Grant G 3 Phal. Chian Xen Super Idol Grant G

SPECIES SYMPODIAL 1 Paph. venustum Yong Gee G 2 Rl. glauca Westphal M 3 Cuitlauzina pulchellum Tierney M

SPECIES OTHER 1 Phal. amabilis 'Ben Yu' Grant G 2 Phal. amabilis 'Snow Beauty' Grant G 3 Phal. aphrodite Illingworth R & M

AUSTRALIAN NATIVE SPECIES 1 Corysanthes fimbriata Yong Gee G 3 Pterostylis curta f. variegata Yong Gee G

AUSTRALIAN NATIVE HYBRID 1 Den. Victorian Darlington (Yondi x Ellen Name

Change) Filia A 2 Den. Graham Hewitt Rutter J & H 3 Den. (Peewee 'Keith' x Essie Banks 'Steve') Rosenberg A

Orchids with an ‘* asterix’ after the name

indicates the plant has been registered.

Please change your name tag.

SHOWS FOR September 2014

Nambour O.S 5/6 th Sept, Uniting Church Hall Coronation Ave, Nambour

Sunshine Coast O.S. 11/12 th Sept, Pelican Waters Shopping Centre Pelican Waters

Beaudesert Dist, O.&F.S. 13/14 th Sept, Canungra School of Arts 3/7 Pine St Canungra

Noosa Dist, O.S. 19/20 th Sept, RSL Memorial Hall Maple St Cooroy

Queensland O.S. 19/21 st Sept, Auditorium Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha

Redlands O.S 6 th Sept Donald Simpson Centre 172 Bloomfield St Cleveland

Toowoomba O.S 19/23 th Sept Centenary Hts School Hall Ramsay St Toowoomba

Glasshouse Country O.S 26/17 th Sept,Beerwah Community Hall Peachester Rd Beerwah

Eastern District O.S 27/28 th Sept, Bayside Uniting Church Hall 420 Wondall Rd Manly West

Lockyer Valley O.S 11/13 th Sept, Cultural Centre Laidley

5

Photography by Reg Illingworth

Judges Choice Hybrid Judges Choice Species

Plant :- Phal amabilis Grower :- Grant G

Plant :- Phal. I-Hsin Actor

Grower :- Grant G

Australian Native Species

Plant :- Corysanthes fimbriata Grower :- Yong Gee G

Cattleya Up to 90mm

Plant C. Dal's Tradition

Grower :- Rutter J & H

Oncdium Alliance

Plant:- Alcra. Flying High 'Stars 'n Bars'

Grower:- Rutter J & H

Cattleya Non Exhibition

Plant:- Bc. Yellow Bird

Grower:- Edwards H &C

Vandaceous

Plant :- (Sarco. hartmannii x Srts. Blue

Knob) x Rhy. retusa Grower:- Tierney M

Paphiopedilum Other

Plant :- Paph. Mary Franz Smith

Grower :- Tierney M

Cymbidium

Plant:- Cym. Bulbarrow 'Maid Marion'

Grower :- Rosenberg A

Cattleya over 90mm

Plant :- Rlc. Burdekin Dawn

Grower :- Rutter J & H

Australian Native Hybrid

Plant :-.Den. Victorian Darlington (Yondi

x Ellen Name Change)

Grower :- Filia A

6

DENDROBIUM BEETLES-NATIVE NASTIES

Most of us who grow a range of orchid genera in the great outdoors have encountered the problem of those orchids

being attacked by a range of insect pests. Although each type of pest can cause significant damage to susceptible

orchids, the focus of this article is on one representative of the beetle family, the dreaded dendrobium beetle

(Stethopachys formosa). The beetles range in size from 8-12mm long by 3-4mm wide. Their antennae are about 5­

6mm long, filamentous, with multiple black segments. Over most of its range, adult dendrobium beetles are bright

orange with a prominent black dot at each end of each wing cover. Juveniles have a similar colour pattern but the

base colours are paler than those of the adults. Their feet are equipped with sharp hooks that allow them to cling to

the host orchid or to your finger. When approached by someone with evil intent, the adult beetles will generally curl

up and drop off their intended meal. Occasionally, they will fly. Juveniles will often fly. Like most common

criminals, captured beetles will plead innocence by squeaking quite loudly. Unlike most of our pests, dendrobium

beetles are native to Australia with a home range from the mid-coast of New South Wales, along coastal Queensland

into the Northern Territory.

Dendrobium Beetle egg. Two Dendrobium Beetle Larvae eating a

Dendrobium leaf

Dendrobium Beetle on a

Dendrobium flower

Dendrobium Beetles

(Stethopachys formosa)

7

Life Cycle Although dendrobium beetles will feed on a range of orchid genera, they appear to breed exclusively on hard-

cane dendrobiums. Adult female beetles lay their eggs in secluded parts of flowers, leaves or new

growths with 1-3 eggs generally being laid at each site. The eggs, which are pale creamy-green, about

1.5mm long and cylindrical with rounded ends, may be deposited by each female at several different

sites on the same plant or on several different plants. During the warmer months, these eggs hatch in 7

-10 days into slimy, creamy coloured larvae. These larvae may look maggot-like but have 6 1egs, a fea-

ture characteristic of beetle larvae. They feed on the flowers or leaves and while doing so accumulate

a slimy mass of detritus on their backs. The leaves may be skeletonized by feeding larvae or adults.

The larvae tunnel down the centre of the cane turning it into a slimy, mushy, often foul-smelling mess

and completely destroy the central tissue of the cane. When the larvae have grown to about 8-12mm

long (about 2-3 weeks after hatching) they bore exit holes in the cane and begin to pupate. At this point

the damaged terminal part of the cane may collapse and die. The larvae secrete a 15-20mm long pupal

case of white, tangled, waxy threads generally in the leaf axil but sometimes at the base of the cane or

on the leaf surface. Pupation lasts about 2-3 weeks. The pest is most active during the warmer

months but a few beetles can always be found at all times of the year. Because of the short life-cycle,

several generations can occur during a single season. Unless the beetles are controlled they can there-

fore severely damage collections of susceptible orchids. Left uncontrolled, they can almost totally de-

stroy hardcane dendrobium collections.

Dendro

bium

Beetle

Larvae

in

orchid

cane

Pupating

larvae.

Larvae

extract

ed

from

their

case

Dendro

bium

Beetle

Larvae

in

orchid

cane

8

Control By far the most effective method of control is to exclude beetles by growing all of your susceptible orchids

in an insect-proof orchid house and always ensuring that any doors into the orchid house are kept closed

when not in use. It is most unlikely that adult beetles would ever be accidentally introduced but care must

be taken to avoid introducing eggs, larvae or pupae whenever any hardcane dendrobiums'are taken into the

orchid house. Not all orchid houses can be made insect proof and many orchid growers, me included, like to

grow various orchids outdoors. In these situations beetle control relies on (1). growing orchids that are re-

sistant to dendrobium beetle attack (2). regularly checking susceptible orchid plants and hand picking or

spot spraying any beetles or (3). using chemical sprays to control any infestations. Consider each in turn:­

(1). If resistant plants are grown, dendrobium beetle attack is a non-existent problem. It is a highly suc-

cessful method of avoiding the frustration that accompanies attempts at growing susceptible plants in a

hostile environment. As an example, I grow all of my softcane dendrobiums outdoors and in over 30 years,

not -a single plant flowers included, has ever been attacked by dendrobium beetles. Yet my Den.speciosum

and other, sacrificial hardcanes that are grown with the softcanes are continually attacked. Regular

checks of these hardcanes (often several times daily) from spring to autumn will often produce up to a

dozen beetles per plant per day. Never have I found a dendrobium beetle on the softcanes. Likewise, I grow

several Indian-type dendrobiums (eg Den. farmeri, Den thyrsiflorum) with the softcanes and have never

observed any dendrobium beetle attack either on the species or their hybrids. It may be argued that the

softcanes flower at a time when the dendrobium beetles are not active. However, the Den. speciosum and

oncidiums that are growing among the softcanes and that flower concurrently always have their flowers

attacked. Additionally, some softcanes flower out of season (December to February) when dendrobium bee-

tle numbers are at their peak. I have never observed beetle attack on any of these flowers. I have however

observed the odd young leaf that has been skeletonized as though it has been attacked by dendrobium

beetles. In all cases, close inspection has revealed that katydids, not dendrobium beetles, are the cause of

the damage. (2). For small collections that can be regularly checked and that are not subject, to high inten-

sity attack, hand picking or spot spraying is a real option. A simple method of hand picking is to hold a

wide mouthed container below the beetles and gently tap the leaf so that the beetles fall into the con-

tainer. Addition of some water (with vegetable oil, detergent or metho added if, desired) to the container

will hold the beetles till they can be dispatched. For spot spraying, a small hand sprayer containing a con-

tact insecticide (eg pyrethrins, carbaryl, malathion) can be used to apply insecticide directly to the beetles.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that formulations containing either ti-tree oil or eucalyptus oil are also ef-

fective insecticides when applied directly to the beetles or larvae. I have no experimental evidence to sup-

port these claims but would appreciate hearing from anyone who has tried these formulations, successfully or

otherwise. Hand picking or spot spraying rely for success on killing the beetles before they have laid any

eggs. If eggs have been laid, larvae will be produced and these must be removed before they cause signifi-

cant damage. In short, regular inspection and swift action are required for these practices to be fully

effective.

(3). For large collections subject to regular attack, chemical control often becomes the only viable option.

Gough and Montgomery (1994) have reported that effective control for up to three weeks post spray appli-

cation can be achieved using carbaryl (Bugmaster, Sevin). Carbaryl at a concentration of 1 gm/l was shown to kill

all stages of the pest (eggs, larvae and adults) and to provide effective control of field infestations. Maldi-

son (Malathion) was less effective while pyrethrum and diazinon were ineffective at controlling field infes-

tations where long-term residual action (rather than a knock-down effect) of the insecticide is required.

Chemical control should be considered as a method of last resort but if it does become necessary it is im-

perative that all precautions and directions issued by the manufacturer are observed. Reference:- Gough,N. and Montgomery,B.L. (1994). Efficacy of insecticides against Stethopachys for-

mosa Baly (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae), a pest of orchids in Eastern Australia. J. Aust. Ento.

Soc. 33, 351-352.

Friendii.

P.S. A good product for getting rid of dendrobium beetle is Killyptus, it kills them and keeps them away

for about 3 weeks or until it rains and washes it off.