April Discovery: Ophrys araneola in La Selva County

This Sunday, April 26th, our field research took us through the Garrotxa and La Selva regions. A notable observation during this exploration was the presence of Ophrys araneola, the Small Spider Orchid, in La Selva county.

We were pleased to find several specimens still in good condition. As one of the earliest orchids to flower, typically blooming from late March through May, this late April sighting with the plants still vigorous suggests a healthy phase for these individuals. Ophrys araneola, often classified as a subspecies of Ophrys sphegodes, is characterized by its small (5-9 mm), reddish-brown or dark brown labellum, notable for its glabrous yellow or yellowish-green margin and a bluish-gray central macula often shaped like an 'H' or the Greek letter 'pi'.

These terrestrial orchids typically thrive on calcareous substrates within dry and lean meadows, garrigues, or forest clearings, conditions that align with the environmental characteristics we observed in the area. Documenting these healthy plants in La Selva contributes valuable data to our understanding of the local distribution of this species, which is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, underscoring the importance of such field observations for conservation efforts.