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March Flies on Frog Orchids

Jun 7, 2019 | Uncategorized

  • Marlin Bowles and I observed these flies on Frog Orchids in Juneau on June 6, 2019.
  • The orchids were present along the Mt. Roberts Trail above the upper tram building.  
  • Of special interest is the male march fly with pollinia on its head. 
  • Female march flies were observed on one frog orchid plant and males were observed on another.
  • In the video the first part shows the female march flies on one of the orchids. The photos are of the male march fly on another orchid plant. 
  • These flies belong to the famlily Bibionidae
  • The orchids are Bracted (frog) Orchis (Coeloglossum viride)
  • For more information about these orchids look at Native Orchids of Southeast Alaska the book updated by Marlin Bowles & Bob Armstrong
  • For information about the pollination of these plants look at /sites/default/files/Claessens.%202018%20ANT_POLLINATION_OF_DACTYLORHIZA_VIRIDIS.%20Orchid%20digest.pdf and /sites/default/files/Claessens_Seifert_2017.%20ant%20pollination%20in%20alps.%2018_Tuexenia.pdf

Bob Armstrong
19200 Williwaw Way
Juneau, Alaska 99801
bob@discoverysoutheast.org

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