Once your adult leafcutter bees begin to hatch, your Backyard Pollinator will soon become the most efficient pollination system you’ve ever seen. When the buzz begins you will have no problem getting close to observe what those busy bees are up to.
Read these notes to discover what hardworking little bees they are. BEE sure to share your newfound knowledge with your friends and family, they will BEE amazed too!
Native to SW Asia and NE Europe, this particular species of leafcutter bee (megachile rotundata) was introduced to North America in the 1930’s.
Farmers who went to Europe as soldiers in WWI took notice of alfalfa fields being pollinated by wild populations of leafcutter bees. This led to the semi-domestication of the species for commercial use in North America.
After hatching male and female leafcutter bees mate. The males have completed their purpose and die within a few days.
Each female bee performs many tasks such as locating a nesting site, cutting leaf material to create cells, gathering pollen and nectar and laying eggs.
Two types of leaf or flower materials are cut by female bees:
- oval and curved shapes to create cells;
- very round flat pieces to cap the tunnels.
As seen in the photo of the cut away styrofoam nest:
- cells have a lining of silky material that is shiny brown;
- the cells are different to the capping material at the entrance of the tunnel.