About

Fly orchids grow in chalk and limestone soils, from woodland glades and rides to open grassland. They can also be found in quarries, on roadside banks, and sometimes in fens. The flowers that grow from their tall, green spikes in late spring resemble flies.

Despite the flowers looking like flies, they actually attract digger wasps. They release a scent which mimics a female wasp's pheremones, luring in males that attempt to mate with them. The male wasps get a dusting of pollen, which they carry on to the next flower that fools them, hopefully pollinating the plant.