What is Fly orchid?
[[File:Ophrys insectifera - Niitvälja2.jpg|thumb|200px|]] The '''fly [[orchid]]''', ''Ophrys insectifera'', is a flower which uses [[scent]] for [[mimicry]].<ref>[http://www.pnas.org/content/105/21/7484 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - The evolution of imperfect floral mimicry]</ref> The plant uses scent to mimic the wasps' female sexual [[Pheromone|pheromones]]. This attracts male [[Wasp|wasps]]. The wasps [[pollination|pollinate]] the flowers as they try to mate with them. It is a remarkable example of sexually deceptive pollination and floral mimicry. The plant is pollinated by only two species of wasp of the [[genus]] ''Argogorytes''. The soil the orchid grows in is poor, and it needs [[mycorrhiza]] to help it get nutrients.<ref>[https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/England_Red_List_1.pdf BSBI - Vascular Plant Red List]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/fly-orchid |title=Plant Life - Fly Orchid |access-date=2022-09-14 |archive-date=2022-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914082428/https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/fly-orchid |url-status=dead }}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Orchids]] [[Category:Wasps]]