Bee Orchid - Ophrys apifera
Favourite Photos
Species Description
Widespread throughout the UK but rare. It can Hybridise with Fly orchid. Life story: Sadly the Bee this plant is famous for is extinct from much of Britain as a result all plants are self pollinated.
Eucera longicornis (Long-horned Bee), Eucera pulveraceae, possibly Eucera nigrescens (Scarce Long-horned Bee) which pollinates Bee and Late Spider Orchid in mainland Europe, Tetralonia cressa.
The Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) is pollinated by Argogorytes mystaceus (Field Digger Wasp), Argogorytes fargeii (Scarce Cuckoo-spit Wasp).
Plant Count: - 2021 (I counted 19 flowering plants in the Great Quarry / Tennis Court Quarry)
Subspecies
| name | latinname | species | sightings | media | image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bee Orchid | Ophrys apifera var. apifera | 1 | 4 | 8 |  |