Hover Fly Pollinating Euphorbia in Vernegues, France

Hover fly pollinating the ever-present Euphorbia in Vernegues.  When trying to ID this little critter, I went back and forth between fly imitating a bee, a real bee, a bumblebee and a wasp.  Finally, a plea and a subsequent tip on Facebook led to an ID as hover fly.  Hover flies are true flies but are typically nectar feeders (and significant as pollinators for some plant species) while their larvae often feed on aphids and other plant pests.  Many are wasp and bee mimics, as is this species, Chrysotoxum cautum.  They can be distinguished by their large (fly-like) eyes and the single set of wings.  In any case, the contrast was too striking to pass up so I snapped the picture while keeping a slightly wary distance.  (A clear case of what doesn't sting you makes you stronger...(just joking here...)). 

Orchis purpurea

A beautifully marked Orchis purpurea blooming along the roadside in Vernegues, France.

In the midst of a large colony of Orchis purpurea.  There was a total absence of them in fields that were previously ploughed.  However, Orchis purpurea, Himantoglossum robertianum, Ophrys lutea and Ophrys provincialis were present in grassy fields that appeared to receive occasional mowing (probably dependent on when the field was mowed, allowing for undisturbed growth in the early Spring).  They were also sometimes present in partially shaded road cuts, if suitable moisture was present.

Himantoglossum robertianum, the "large orchis"

Himantoglossum robertianum, the "giant orchis" was blooming prolifically at multiple sites in Provence.  Each site seemed to have slight regional variation in flower color and form that was shared among the population.  It's not clear what the pollinator was although I did see large black ants on some of them.

 Himantoglossum robertianum at Vernegues.  These were quite plentiful and most had a earthy brown hue.  This one had more lavender in the lip than the rest.  There were many of these in full bloom.

 Himantoglossum robertianum at Robion.  This was one of the few still in bloom.  Most had bloomed and gone to seed.  These flowers were narrower and longer than the Vernegues strain and the Oppede strain.

Himantoglossum robertianum at Oppede le Vieux.  These contained the most lavender of the three populations but were similar in shape to the Vernegues population.

L'Ophrys araignée or the Early Spider Orchid

L'Ophrys araignée (common name in French -- i.e. the spider Ophrys), or in English, the "early spider orchid," Ophrys sphegodes, blooming in full sun on the edge of a field, mixed in with very sparse, low grass.  These were tiny plants only about 5 inches tall.

Orchids in France: Ophrys provincialis

Ophrys provincialis, Verneques, France.  I found these tiny orchids growing individually in lightly wooded areas under oaks and pines.

Wild Orchids in France: Ophrys lutea

Ophrys lutea, one of the yellow Ophrys, blooming at the edge of a field in Vernegues, France.  These orchids are insect mimics, most being pollinated by male bees or flies, attracted by female pheromones exuded by the flowers.  Sadly, the area where these are from is slowly being subdivided for houses.

Vernegues Castle

Vernegues Castle Ruins, Vernegues, France.

Speckled Wood Butterfly, Pararge aegeria

Speckled Wood Butterfly, Pararge aegeria, in Vernegues, France. The wing spots are apparently to cause predating birds to go after the edge of the wings, distracting them from the soft body within.

Green Scarab Beetle, Chiloloba acuta, in Vernegues, France

Green Scarab Beetle, Chiloloba acuta, munching on a fresh rose flower in Vernegues, France. I would check the roses every morning to see what new critters the floribunda roses had attracted for me to photograph! I was never disappointed! Ironically, it was just this one particular floribunda rose bush. Perhaps it was the fragrance that attracted the insects. In any case, the large-flowered hybrid tea roses did not get anywhere near as much insect traffic. Now for the really mind-boggling part. The amazing, glossy green color results, not from green pigment, but from the prismatic microstructure in layers of chitin in the beetles outer shell. The beetle is essentially a glossy green mirror. Thus, while normal organic pigments would fade over time and exposure to the sun, the prismatic green of the scarab beetles is remarkably durable.

Epipactis helleborine in Vernegues, France

Epipactis helleborine, growing alongside the road in Vernegues, France. I was literally lying along the side of the road to get this shot, hoping that nobody would roll me over (I was wearing blue after all). As it was a cloudy day, this was taken with a flash. These are one of the more common wild orchids in the Mediterranean region; however, they come in all sorts of variations. The color varies from green and white to nearly red. They also vary from quite cuppy to nearly flat. The leaves vary from heart shaped to more lanceolate. The blooming plants also vary in height from about 2 inches tall to about 2 feet tall. It's a lot of fun to see all the genetic variation and luckily for me, they bloom in late May. The ones closer to the road, i.e. those getting more sun, tend to bloom sooner.

Centauree de Salonique, Centaurea salonitana

Centauree de Salonique, Centaurea salonitana, Vernegues, France. These little thistle-like plants remind me of a dandelion flower glued on top of a spiny artichoke. They have a unique charm with lots of texture to photograph. These were blooming in a nearby field and are native to the central Mediterranean region. I'm guessing they were named after Salon de Provence.

Spider in the Garden, Vernegues, France

A spider in the garden in Vernegues, France. It's a tiny spider, about the size of your finger nail on your pinkie finger. The challenge is getting both the sunlight on the web and the detail on the spider at the same time. Tough shot; however, the model wasn't moving so there was time to experiment. How would you snap that shot?