The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects
 

(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)

by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds

 

OPHRYS. Bee-Orchid, Fly Orchid and Spider Orchids. [Orchidaceae]


Five species of Ophrys are recorded in Britain. These include the native Bee Orchid (O. apifera), Fly Orchid (O. insectifera), Early Spider-orchid (O. sphegodes) and Late Spider-orchid (O. fuciflora).

No British miners are recorded on Ophrys.

 

Bee orchid - Ophrys apifera. Image: © Brian Pitkin
Bee orchid
Ophrys apifera



Key for the identification of the known mines of British
insects (Diptera and non-Diptera) recorded on Ophrys


1 > Leaf-miner: Large blotch with a group of some larvae. At the start of the mine a group of elliptic egg shells.

The larvae make individual mines which then merge to form an upper surface blotch. The larva leaves the mine to pupate.

On Listera, but not yet on Ophrys, in Britain, but not common. On Cephalanthera, Cypripedium, Dactylorhiza, Epipactis, Gymnadenia, Ophrys and Orchis elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe. Also recorded in the Republic of Ireland and from the Nearctic region

Parallelomma vittatum (Hering, 1826) [Diptera: Scathophagidae].



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