Ophrys sphegodes Miller (Ophrys aranifera Hudson)
Conservation status: LR
First record: Ray, 1663 Last record: Henslow, 1837
Ophrys aranifera It is also found in Cambridgeshire, always on a chalky soil, and varying much as to the number of flowers. Smith,Eng.Bot. (1790) 1:65.
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Orchis sive Testiculus Sphegodes hirsuto flore J.B. The green–winged Humble–bee Orchis. In an old gravel–pit near Shelford by the foot way from Trumpington to the church we found hundreds of them. Ray,1663,7.
Orchis sive Testiculus Sphegodes hirsuto flore Humble Satyrion, with green wings. In an old Gravel–pit in the open field near great Shelford in Cambridge–shire. Ray,1670:228.
... by the foot way from Trumpington to the Church plentifully. Ray,1685,13.
Orchis sive Testiculus sphegodes hirsuto flore Humble–Bee–Satyrion, with green wings. Solo sicco & glareoso sed rarius invenitur, as in an old Gravel–pit in the open Field near Great Shelford in Cambridgeshire,... Ray,1690,172; Ray,1696,238; Ray,1724,380.
Orchis sive Testiculus Sphegodes hirsuto flore... The green–wing'd Humble–bee Orchis. In an old gravel–pit near Shelford by the Foot-way from Trumpington to the church plentifully.Cat.Cant.App. Martyn,1727,102.
Orchis fuscum referens, colore rubiginoso. Humble–Bee–Satyrion, with green wings. In an old Gravel pit, near Great Shelford, where it is now almost lost:.. It flowers in April. Martyn,1732,2:140–141.
[In an old Gravel–pit near Shelford by the Foot–way from Trumpington to the Church plentifully.* ] * where it is now almost lost. Th.M.ann.Meth.102.
Ophrys aranifera Spider Ophrys. Shelford. Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
Went with Hiley to Shelford to hunt for the station of Ophrys aranifera given by Ray. All the old gravel pits between Shelford and Trumpington are ploughed up. 21.5.1859. Bab.Mem.192.
In an old gravel-pit near Shelford by the foot-way from Trumpington to the Church, we found hundreds of them, AD. 1660-63; Ray. This pit is now obliterated by the plough. Bab.1860,227; and TM states that in 1759 or 1760 it was nearly lost there. Bab.ann.
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... and by the Road side near Bartlow. Ray,1690,172; Ray,1696,238; Ray,1724,380.
... and on Bartlow Hills. It flowers in April. Martyn,1732,2:140–141; Th.M.ann.Meth.102.
Spider or Green–winged Bee Ophrys. Bartlow. Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
Near Bartlow; Relhan. Bab.1860,227.
Noticed also at Bartlow by Relhan part of which parish is in Essex. Gibson,1862.
ABINGTON
[There must have been two sites at Abington–the first between the two Abingtons, and the second in Lt Abington, near Hildersham, south of the Roman Road, possibly in one of the gravel pits.]
Orchis sphegodes hirsuto flore Abington JM.ann.
In a bushy Close by the foot way between the two Abingtons. JM.ann.Meth.102.
... in a bushy close, between the two Abingtons, Martyn,1732,2:140–141.
Orchis sphegodes hirsuto flore Abington Th.M.ann.Meth.–Index Loc.1.
In a bushy close by ye foot way between the two Abingtons. Th.M.ann.Meth.102.
Ophrys aranifera Spider Ophrys. Abington.Relhan,1785;1802.
Abington, M Ramsay, 4.1816, CGE.
Abington.Relhan,1820.
Abington. Henslow ann. 2:366.
Abington, CC Babington, 24.5.1837, CGE.
Abington, JS Henslow, 24.5.1837, (2 sheets), CGE.
On a balk towards the Roman road, Abington. Bab.1860,227.
We made a small party to botanize near Linton. Found near Abington several specimens of Ophrys aranifera..24.5.1837. Bab.Mem.61.
In a bushy close by the foot-way between the two Abingtons; TM. Bab.1860,227.
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Ophrys aranifera Spider Ophrys. Hildersham. Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
Hildersham, C Townley, 15.5.1829, CGE.
Hildersham, C Townley, 15.5.1829,! Bab.ann.
Hildersham, R Goodwin, Hb JA Power, 5.1836, RTE.
Near Hildersham; rare, n.c., SWN.
Hildersham, Hb JA Power, 29.5.1837, RTE.
Went by coach to Linton, with HC Rothery, B.A., of St. John's, and then walked to the usual hills and open places to which Henslow's class have been accustomed to go, but found that the two open places on which the most interesting plants were found, had been ploughed up. It came on to rain hard, and we walked by in it, going along the Roman Road, and then turning down to the station for Ophrys aranifera, but found that some one had been before us and dug up all the plants. 2.6.1840. Bab.Mem.88.
Stratton and I went to West Wratting... After an early dinner we went to Hildersham,.. we also hunted unsuccessfully near Hildersham for the Spider Orchis. 2.6.1857. Bab.Mem.185.
Dry open chalky banks near Hildersham, sparingly; GS Gibson. but it has not been recently found. Bab.1860,227.
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Teversham, E Litchfield, 14.5.1823, CGE & ! Bab.ann.
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Ophrys aranifera This was found some years ago by the late Mr John Prince, surgeon of Balsham, on balks at Horseheath. I never had the opportunity of searching this locality, at the proper season. Smart,1863.
