Orchids in the Belfast Hills

[mark smyth]

Today I was brought to two sites in the Belfast Hills. I need to go back for good photos. It was so windy this morning with low clouds.

We saw
Platanthera - I didnt know they grew so close to my house
D. fuchsii - I never knew they were so variable. Some had fantastic scent.
D. viridis
D. maculata
D. incarnata
Neottia
Epipactis
some sort of Marsh orchid

[mark smyth]

Is it a moth or various moths that pollinate the butterfly orchid?

[daveyp1970]

Is it a moth or various moths that pollinate the butterfly orchid?

I am going to put my neck on the block and say yes.........just waiting for the axe!

[ronm]

I believe your neck should remain intact Davey. Sphingids are the usual pollinators.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=4&sqi=2&ved=0CE4QFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fuu.diva-portal.org%2Fsmash%2Fget%2Fdiva2%3A161329%2FFULLTEXT01&ei=0X4CUN3DB-O80QWbx7S6Bw&usg=AFQjCNEiCCjqsHcO5peGxBrGjiCdkn24qg&sig2=DLKiq-6PzszyYW5C9rASmQ

and

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2640478?uid=3738032&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21100918104301

There is plenty more documented evidence out there as well, 

Here pollinating a related Platanthera sp.

[daveyp1970]

O my word what a fantastic vid Ron.Incredible.

[ronm]

O my word what a fantastic vid Ron.Incredible.

When you hold these moths in your hands, the power you feel from their muscles is so amazing!
Apparently the orchids pollen sacs stick onto the head / eyes of the moth.

One more .....



In the video a Hermit sphinx hawk moth (Lintneria eremitus (Hübner)) visits flowers in the orchid inflorescence to feed on nectar (12 microliters) in the 50 mm long spur. When the moth feeds, its large compound eyes contact the flower's sticky pads (viscidium) that attach to a pollen sac (pollinium). When the moth departs, the pollen sac also departs and takes up a position directly in front of the moth's head. When the moth next visits a flower, pollen falls on the stigma. The result is an orchid seed capsule that can contain up to 20,000 tiny seeds (3.5 microns length). Moths have been found with up to 8 pollinaria attached to a compound eye. (Video by Kristina Fox, NDSU Master's student.)