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Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee

Megachile mendica

The Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee is a small, friendly bee that loves to collect leaves. They use the leaves to build cozy nests for their babies. These bees are important for helping flowers grow by spreading pollen.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee is a medium-sized bee with a black body covered in dense whitish hairs, especially on its face and the underside of its abdomen. Females have a prominent brush of golden-yellow hairs beneath their belly for collecting pollen, and their abdomen often appears somewhat flattened.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyMegachilidaeGenusMegachile
Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee
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Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A female bee can lay up to 20 eggs, each in its own leafy chamber.

Leafcutter bees don't sting unless aggressively handled, making them gentle giants!

These bees prefer to use leaves from roses and lilacs for their nests!

They often choose hollow stems or rotting wood to build their amazing nests.

Special abilities

Ability

Precision Cutter

Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee can snip perfect circular pieces from leaves using strong jaws, which helps them build sturdy, camouflaged nests.

Ability

Belly Carrier

Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee has a unique fuzzy brush on its belly that helps them carry massive amounts of pollen, making them excellent pollinators.

Ability

Tunnel Architect

Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee can construct individual cells within tunnels using leaf pieces, providing safe, custom nurseries for their young.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
15-25 mm
Size
8-12 mm
Lifespan
20-60 days
Flight Speed
18 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

They sip nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their babies.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Pollen
  • Helianthus annuus
  • Trifolium repens

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

pollinates

Multiflora Rose

Rosa multiflora

Gathers leaf pieces and pollen from flowers.

pollinates

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Collects nectar and pollen from its blooms.

eaten by

Goldenrod Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

Ambush predator waiting on flowers for bees.

parasitizes

Sapyga Wasp

Sapyga pumila

Lays eggs in the bee's nest cells.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Be gentle and quiet around bees; they are usually not dangerous and just want to collect food.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee's wingspan?

15-25 mm

How big is Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee?

8-12 mm

How long does Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee live?

20-60 days

How fast can Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee fly?

18 km/h

What does Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee eat?

They sip nectar for energy and gather pollen to feed their babies.

Where is Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee usually found?

Urban areas

How does Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee have?

6

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