O. sphegodes was first described by Miller from England in 1768 and its name alludes to the flowers
resemblance to a wasp.
This species has a widespread distribution though its precise limits are not known with any certainty due
to its similarity to a significant number of both related and unrelated species. Its northerly range is
however relatively well known due to the absence of any similar Ophrys with which to confuse it. Belgium, southern England and central Germany form the northernmost outposts and although it is highly localised
it can be quite frequent in its favoured sites.
To the south it is thought to reach as far as southern Spain and in the east its known to occur (uncommonly)
in Corfu. Its choice of habitat is wide but it never strays from alkaline substrates and avoids competetive
rank vegetation. In England O. sphegodes is exclusively confined to the kinder climatic conditions found in
coastal environments and the species maintains significant populations in the Purbeck Hills of Dorset and on
the Channel Tunnel chalk spoil heaps of Samphire Hoe in Kent.
In the north of its range it vies with Orchis mascula to be the first orchid of Spring and on the continent can appear as early as mid March. Its for this reason that it has long been commonly known as the Early Spider Orchid. One of the key distinguishing features of O. sphegodes is the restricted basal field and the constricted base to the stigmatic cavity. In the south of its range both natural species variation and introgression can cause great difficulties with identification. The pictures here all come from the two previously mentioned locations and date from the 15th of April.
