Welcome to Project Noah and congratulations Xavipaetus, this beautiful orchid is our Spotting of the Day!
"Learn about sexual deception with our Spotting of the Day, a beautiful Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum)! Orchids of the genus Ophrys attracts male pollinating insects by producing the sex pheromone of female pollinators, together with providing visual and tactile cues (the flower resembles and feels like the female). Males will then try to copulate with the flower, pollinating it in the process. Every Ophrys species has its own pollinating insect, and Ophrys speculum is pollinated exclusively by a scoliid wasp, Dasyscolia ciliata. Ophrys speculum is known as Mirror Orchid because of the reflection of light by its bright iridescent purple speculum; this mimics reflection of the sky on a wasp’s wings. This species is distributed throughout the Mediterranean".
3 Comments
Huge congrats! Well done on your very first Project Noah spotting!
Congratulations. Beautiful flower.
Welcome to Project Noah and congratulations Xavipaetus, this beautiful orchid is our Spotting of the Day!
"Learn about sexual deception with our Spotting of the Day, a beautiful Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum)! Orchids of the genus Ophrys attracts male pollinating insects by producing the sex pheromone of female pollinators, together with providing visual and tactile cues (the flower resembles and feels like the female). Males will then try to copulate with the flower, pollinating it in the process. Every Ophrys species has its own pollinating insect, and Ophrys speculum is pollinated exclusively by a scoliid wasp, Dasyscolia ciliata. Ophrys speculum is known as Mirror Orchid because of the reflection of light by its bright iridescent purple speculum; this mimics reflection of the sky on a wasp’s wings. This species is distributed throughout the Mediterranean".
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