Isotria verticillata [pollination & insect interaction]

Katydid Nymph [Amblycorypha] on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 6-15-26

Dance Flies [Hybotidea] on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Fly [Hybotidea] feeding on grains of pollen on Isotria verticillata, notice the grains of pollen stuck to its thorax. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Flies [Hybotidea] showing grains of pollen stuck to its leg [above] and abdomen [below] Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Fly [Hybotidea] feeding on grains of pollen on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

This Dance Fly [Hybotidea] having been guided by the nectary guides is deep within the flower feeding on grains of pollen. Isotria verticillata. County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Fly [Hybotidea] on anther, notice the grains of pollen on the callus [part of the labellum] dislodged by the Dance flies, Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Flies [Hybotidea] on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

This picture shows a Dance Fly [Hybotidea] feeding on pollen while standing on the sticky stigma of Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Flies [Hybotidea] on the anther of Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Fly [Hybotidea] with grains of pollen on its feet and abdomen on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Flies [Hybotidea] with grains of pollen on their feet and abdomen on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Fly [Hybotidea] feeding on grains of pollen on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Dance Flies [Hybotidea] feeding on grains of pollen on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

This Dance Fly [Hybotidea] having been guided by the nectary guides is deep within the flower in search of nectar on Isotria verticillata. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

This year was the very first time I had observed insects on Large Whorled Pogonia [Isotria verticillata] in the over ten years of spending many hours with this orchid. Called Dance Flies [Hybotidea] sometimes finding up to 6 inside the flowers at a time. Some could be found deep inside the flower [inflorescence]. Over the two days spent at this site with seven flowering plants and a total of 8 hours of observation, these insects could be seen feeding on pollen and also carrying pollen on themselves as well. None of these seven plants formed a seed pod but I do not think these insects can be discounted as possible pollinators for this orchid. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-12 & 15-26.

Pollination of the Large Whorled Pogonia [Isotria verticillata]. An insect, in the case of this orchid many different bees are known pollinators, land on the flower and is guided by the purple streaks called "nectar guides" in search of nectar, but this orchid produces no nectar and relies on tricking the insect using these nectar guides to funnel it deeper into the flower. Following the guides the pollinator goes under the anther to the sticky stigma where it gets the sticky substance on its thorax. And as the pollinator is leaving the flower it passes by the anther again and this time pollen is stuck to the sticky substance on the thorax. The pollen is then transferred to the stigma of another flower and pollination has been successful. [above & below]

This Large Whorled Pogonia [Isotria verticillata] had quite a battle and struggled with leaf litter to bloom, but plants are resilient and determined to reach maturity as they have waited all year for this brief moment to flower and hopefully get pollinated. This particular plant was rewarded with its perseverance as it is the only orchid of the seven that bloomed in this spot to have been pollinated and form a seed pod. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-15-26

Unknown caterpillar feeding on the ridges on the outside of a Large Whorled Pogonia [Isotria verticillata] seed pod. Dauphin County, Pa. 11-18-24

I captured this unknown caterpillar feeding on the ridges on the outside of a Large Whorled Pogonia [Isotria verticillata] seed pod [as you can see in the first picture, the outer layer of the ridges at the top of the pod have been eaten to a lighter color], on November 18, with temperatures in the 50's. The caterpillar was still seen eating on November 21, temperatures had droped to a chilly 37 degrees. The caterpillar is no longer on the pod as of December 1. I had no idea the insects, such as this tiny caterpillar could still be so active, so late in the year and with such cold temperatures. Dauphin County, Pa.

Seed pod from Large Whorled Pogonia [Isotria verticillata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 8-5-24. Shown with a pod from 2 years ago. Of the 18 plants that flowered in this area only 3 were pollinated and produced seed pods.

This picture shows all that is left of the once magnificent flower of the Large Whorled Pogonia [Iostria verticillata] [left], right shows the same flower just two weeks before. It was not successfully pollinated, as there is no seed pod on this flower this year. It is truly a marvel after all the challeges plants go through in a year just to produce a single flower for just two weeks and hopefully reproduce. From gowing all summer, and in the case of this orchid the leaves, after flowering, will double in size to store enough energy to produce a flower next year and hopefully be successfully pollinated. In the mean time it will need sufficient moisture, sunlight. and avoiding being eaten by a bear, or deer, or perhaps a rabbit, and avoid all the ravages of insects. For all their beauty plants such as this one orchid have a single purpose, to reproduce and continue its species.

The beautiful Orange Patched Smokey Moth [Pyromorpha dimidiata] on Large Whorled Pogina [Isotria verticillata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-31-24

Aphids [Hemipteran] have made a home inside this Large Whorled Pogonia [Isotria verticillata]. Dauphin County, Pa. 5-18-24