 Dragon orchid labellum | Greetings fellow Foxies, I have just found a Dragon Orchid (Caladenia barbarossa) in Foxes Lair and must share its dreadful secret with you. In the image (left) can you see that the labellum (middle bit) looks like an insect on steroids? To flower wasp males (Thynnidae, Scolioidae) the labellum looks like a flightless female; a veritable Miss Universe of its species, that drives it to mate. Alas the poor fellow just bumps against the flower’s sexual bits and pollinates it, but leaves him unsatisfied. To make matters worse the orchid may also emit female wasp pheromones. Dragon orchids are fairly common in sheoak woodland in early October. A good spot is the small sheoak patch at the claypit. |
 Pale variant of dragon orchid |  Dragon orchid |  Flower wasp trying to mate with a beard orchid at Dryandra. Image Lyn Alcock |
