Ophrys sphegodes and Ophrys aesculapii were considered separate species in the 2006 Pierre Delforge's "Orchids of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East". The photo of O. aesculapii is a close match to this plant; however, Kew now considers aesculapii a valid subsp. of O. sphegodes. The genetics in this group are unclear, but most taxons appear genetically to be subspecies. Flower size and available images of O. sphegodes subsp. aesculapii closely match this plant. The mask pattern on the lip appears somewhat variable.