Good Year for Bee Orchids

We visited a local site to see how the Man Orchids were doing this year and the answer was not well. With the very dry conditions, all the flowers appeared to be suffering and we only found a couple of very small specimens in the main site and a single Tway Blade. However, we did find a better group in a moister area under a hedge. In contrast, there were numerous Bee Orchids in good condition and plenty of Common Spotted Orchids.

Orchids in West Cambridgeshire

I visited a local reserve where in previous years there has been a good display of Man Orchids - this year I only found three and they were very small (second image). There were abundant Common Spotted Orchids and Twayblades. At our local reserve again plenty of Common Spotted plus Pyramidal and Bee Orchids. Last two images are of a very fine Knapweed Broomrape which was being visited by large numbers of ants.

Haslingfield Clunch Pits on Hot June Afternoon

I visited Haslingfield Clunch Pits last Sunday to check on the orchids.The Man Orchids and Twayblades are fully out but the Common Spotted are still in bud or not yet developed spikes. Lots of insect life with a wonderful Myathropa florea hoverfly, Ringlet Butterfly, Lattice Heath and Burnet Companion Moths, Dock and Hairy Bugs, a Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle, Empis species fly and a very obliging Crab Spider - Xysticus ulmi.

Twayblade Pollination and other Insects from Sunny Afternoon

Last year, I photographed a Sailor Beetle pollinating a Twayblade, so today visited a local clunch quarry to see what was out and what insects were about. Hundreds of Twayblades this year but fewer Man Orchids. First images show Sawfly visiting Twayblade flower and coming out with pollen sacs (pollinia) stuck to its head. It then travels to the next flowers and will pollinate these. The diamond-backed moth manages to get nectar from the flower without disturbing the pollen sacs. An amazing little picture-winged fly was visiting the Man Orchid but did not enter the flowers. Other images of insects that took my eye during the day include my favourite Speckled Bush Cricket young, two types of Bumblebee Hoverflies and two colourful Saw flies.

Strange Insect Behaviour Revealed Among the Orchids

I visited two of our local meadows with friends from CCC as there are particularly good displays of Common Spotted, Bee, Man and Twayblade Orchids at the moment, including an albino Spotted  Orchid. I was fortunate to spot a Soldier Beetle visiting Twayblade flowers for the nectar and at the same time picking up the pollen sacs on its head. These club-shaped pollinia attach to the head of the insect with sticky pads and will pollinate other flowers the beetle visits. Deeper in the foliage, a crab spider female holds onto her lunch while the smaller male attaches itself around her abdomen. Similar scenario with a couple of Dance flies, the female clasping her Crane fly prey.