He asked if I would like to take a trip to see the Ant Orchids that are flowering at the moment. Even though I think he likes to push my camera skills, and my mind, to the limit trying to photograph these little tiny little flowers, I cant resist a challenge - so off we went.
We soon found a patch with the follo
wing blooms...
The pseudo insect form is quite clearly visible in the photo on the left, while the right hand shot shows well the pollen receptors.
The area was alive with insects, and I managed to get the following shots of a hover fly.
Denis, meanwhile, had found another Ant Orchid sub species. This is pictured below, again showing the pseudo insect that , along with a sexual pheromone, helps in the pollination of this plant......yes, these orchids are houses of ill repute for the wasps that visit them.
Will wonders never cease.
