- 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
March Flies on Frog Orchids
https://vimeo.com/340916436