The common spotted orchid ~ Dactylorhiza fuchsii ~ does not prod

Orchid pollination. Nectar is the usual incentive for animal pollinators.

The interactions between orchids and their pollinators are diverse and often complex, commonly involving either chemical or visual cues including mimicry. Although this is a common orchid across Europe it was not until 1990 that observations were published that male longhorn beetles , Alosterna tabacicolor, were the main pollinator in the observation site in Poland. Alosterna tabacicolor are also common in the UK. Like other orchids, it is likely that the common spotted orchid produces sex pheromones that attract the beetles who clambering around the flower head and pick up and deposit pollen. There are 30,000 species of orchid but, despite their popularity with collectors the pollinators of many species are still unknown. Photographed June, Worcestershire, UK