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'Bee' Orchid

Ophrys speculum

Photo by craigwilliams
Published on Project Noah
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36.9658, -2.20651

Field Notes

Habitat:

First shot is in Maquis, the second over Gypsum

Notes:

Pollinated by the Scolid wasp Dasyscolia ciliata, which has orange/brown furry stripes and wings that flash blue when folded in the sun. Despite seeing hundreds of this amazing Ophys and some very patient waiting, I didn't see a single pollinator.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
eulalia rubio
He abierto la misión "Biodiversidad en España/Spain": http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/9014779 ¿Puedes incluir tus spottings? Gracias.
ceherzog
Okay Craig...now I know you're out there if you can identify a Dasyscolia ciliata by it's smell. Definitely into pheremones...watch out ladies!
craigwilliams
Yes - these are sexy ladies! They even smell similar to a female wasp. I did a pollination study at one sight, where flowering was well over, and it was well bellow 1%. It would be nice to know if the wasps had a bad yaer or flowering failed to coincide with the inexperienced males who get duped into the dirty deed! This is by far the most common Ophrys we saw in Andalucia though, with O.lutea coming in a close second.
ceherzog
Very cool! In terms of orchid pollination biology: Psuedo-copulation Excellent!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Flowers of Europe
Mission
2011 Best Wildlife Photo
Mission
Biodiversidad en España/Spain
Photographed
PublishedOctober 8, 2011

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