Closely related to Bee Orchids and the rare Early Spider Orchid there’s several well established colonies of Fly Orchids in the limestone pavements and woodlands around Morecambe Bay.
Pollinated by the male Digger Wasp (very definitely not a fly) the orchid relies upon scent to attract male wasps which pollinate the flowers as they attempt to mate with the flower. The scent released by the flowers mimics the female’s pheromones.
The flowers do tend to vary with some having a very distinctive white band across them whilst others are plain. Good sites include Hutton Roof, Sandside and Trowbarrow Quarry. The number of flowering plants at each site varies from year to year.
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