This orchid was first described as O. holoserica subsp. ethemeae by Kreutz in 2011 but was promoted to full species status by Delforge in 2015. It is a member of the O. bornmuelleri group of Ophrys and its name refers to the flowers ethereal qualities.

This recently recognized Ophrys is a plant of garrigue and abandoned terraces on calcareous soils but may also occasionally stray into positions of light shade. It occurs only on the islands of Samos and Kos where it can be found growing individually or in very small groups, often in association with other of the two islands fuciflorid species, notably O. samiotissa and O. tili.  O. ethemeae is variable and not always easy to separate from the previously named taxons both of which are equally prone to exhibit a high degree of natural variability.

In its typical form however O. ethemeae is distinguishable by its usually quadrangular shape, orange/brown flared lip margins and somewhat compressed stigmatic cavity. The speculum, although not generally elaborate, is usually extensive, covering much of the lip. As with all species of the O. bornmuelleri group, the lip is circled with an unbroken ring of light brown, sometimes whitish hair. In Samos its flowering coincides with that of both O. tili and O. samiotissa from early April and is fading by May when O. samia is just coming into bloom. On Kos it flowers concurrenty with O. tili. As already mentioned, it is an uncommon species which can be easily overlooked due to its habit of growing amongst other similar orchids.

The pictures are from southern Samos and Kos dating from the end of April at a time when many of the plants were going over.