Late Season Observation of Ophrys insectifera at Puig del Far, Osona

During a recent trek along the route to Puig del Far in Osona, we made a noteworthy observation of a single specimen of Ophrys insectifera, commonly known as the Fly Orchid.

This particular individual, found at an altitude of approximately 600-700 meters, displayed its last flower open and intact. Its presence at this time suggests we were at the very end of its flowering window for this elevation, as the species typically blooms in Catalonia between April and May. Despite the late season, the flower presented the characteristic features of the species: greenish outer sepals and narrow, dark inner petals designed to mimic insect antennae. The elongated, velvety labellum, dark in hue, still bore its distinctive iridescent central macula, a crucial element in its strategy of sexual deception to attract its specific pollinator, the male digger wasp (Argogorytes).

The location aligns with the species' preference for calcareous, humid, and alkaline soils, often found in fresh meadows or scrubland. This sighting, though late in the season, contributes to our understanding of the species' phenology and persistence in the Osona region.