.jpg&width=800)
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee
ExploreInsects
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee
megachile rotundata
The Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee is a small, fuzzy bee that loves to collect leaves for its nest. It plays an important role in helping flowers grow by pollinating them as it buzzes around!
Habitat: Alfalfa fields, gardens, and meadows where flowers bloom.
Appearance
The Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee is a small, stout bee with a dark body covered in dense, yellowish-grey hairs, especially on its underside. Females have a distinct golden-bristled belly (scopa) for carrying pollen, differing from the leg-pollen baskets of honeybees. They are generally less fuzzy than bumblebees.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyMegachilidaeGenusMegachile
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Each female bee builds individual nursery cells, laying one egg in each leafy compartment.
Their unique nests look like tiny burritos or cigars made from carefully cut leaf pieces!
These busy bees are so effective at their job, farmers actually buy them to pollinate crops!
Unlike honeybees, they carry pollen on their hairy tummies, not in baskets on their legs!
Special abilities
Ability
Leaf Architects
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bees can snip perfect circular leaf pieces using powerful jaws that helps them build cozy, tubular nest cells.
Ability
Belly Pollen Carrier
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bees have a special hairy abdomen (scopa) that helps them efficiently collect and transport pollen.
Ability
Super Pollinators
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bees rapidly and effectively pollinate many flowers, which helps increase crop yields for farmers.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 12-20 mm
- Size
- 6-10 mm
- Lifespan
- 28-42 days
- Flight Speed
- 15 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
They love to sip sweet nectar and collect protein-rich pollen from flowers to feed their young!
Primary Foods
- Nectar
- Pollen
- Alfalfa pollen
- Clover pollen
- Sunflower pollen
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
pollinates
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Essential for alfalfa seed production.
parasitizes
Cuckoo Bee
Sapyga pumila
Lays eggs in the leafcutter bee's nest cells.
parasitizes
Chalcid Wasp
Monodontomerus obsoletus
Parasitic wasp that attacks larvae.
eaten by
Crab Spider
Misumena vatia
Hides on flowers, ambushing visiting bees.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Alfalfa BeeMegachile Bee
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee's wingspan?
12-20 mm
How big is Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee?
6-10 mm
How long does Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee live?
28-42 days
How fast can Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee fly?
15 km/h
What does Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee eat?
They love to sip sweet nectar and collect protein-rich pollen from flowers to feed their young!
Where is Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee usually found?
Alfalfa fields, gardens, and meadows where flowers bloom.
How does Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee have?
6
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
_female_ventral.jpg&width=800)
.jpg&width=800)
