2023
TQ2351 : Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)
taken 10 months ago, near to Buckland, Surrey, England
Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)
An individual flower of the Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) in
TQ2351 : Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) and
TQ2351 : Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera). Mainly found in scrub and woodland in the southern England chalk belt (as here, alongside a path on North Downs chalk), it also occurs elsewhere in lime-rich soils. The flowers have a strong insect resemblance, hence both the English and Latin names. In this case, the mimicry serves a purpose: a combination of its appearance and pheromones produced by the plant dupes male digger wasps of the genus Argogorytes into thinking that the flowers are females, and the resulting attempt at copulation results in the pollen being collected - if followed by a visit to another plant, this may result in pollination. Note the aphids on the flower and the stalk behind.
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