This species was first described from the Thripti region of Crete by Paulus in 2007 and is a member of the O. fusca group whose name refers to the light chestnut coloured lip. It should be metioned however that whilst this colouration is most common, darker individuals can occur.

The recognition of O. pallidula resulted from a study into the Cretan, late flowering fusca group and is endemic to the Thripti massif in the east of the island. Although extremely local it does not appear to be particularly uncommon and indeed has been found to hybridize with the similar O. phaidra. O. pallidula is very reminiscent of O. lindia from Rhodes and like that species, the colour of the lip is a pale chestnut. This does not however distinguish it from O. phaidra, which although normally darker, can often appear with this lighter colouration. These two species, as well as the very rare O. cressa, share similar flowering times (April and early May) depending on altitude.

The speculum of O. pallidula is variable both in colouration and extent. In some examples it may be large and reach the sinuses and in others be restricted to the central area without touching the margins at all. The base colour ranges from brown to metallic blue but is generally quite dull, usually with a visible milky crescent. There is invariably a bright yellow marginal band and this can often be broad. The illustrations date from the middle of April and come from the Oreino district of eastern Crete.