O. parosica was first described by Delforge from Paros in 1995 and is a member of the O. attaviria group of Ophrys.
This species together with O. phaseliana and the more recently described O. pelinaea have been presenting taxonomic challenges for over a decade now, most particularly in terms of conspecificy but also the question of their very presence in the eastern Aegean. In 2006, Delforge acknowledged the possibility of conspecificy but nonetheless described O. parosica and O. phaseliana as separate species, both to be found in the islands of the eastern Aegean. His opinion subsequently moved to a reduction of O. phaseliana's status to one of variety (O. parosica v phaseliana). Further research by Paulus and Hirth (2015) does not accord with this view and recommended reclassification of both these species (together with O. meropes and O. theophrasti) from the eastern Aegean as O. pelinaea. Confirming O. parosica to be restricted to the Cyclades and O. phaseliana to south west Turkey, the latter therefore outside of the scope of this site. The situation has now settled into an understanding that O. phaseliana is restricted to Turkey, O. pelinaea is an individual and widespread species and O parosica is also a full species with a range through much of the Aegean.
The illustrations are from Chios and Samos and depict plants with the typical marbling, yellow lip margin and open sinuses that are so characteristic of O. parosica. They date from the first week of April.
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