Cedar Creek
Natural History Area

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order HYMENOPTERA

Family MEGACHILIDAE

(Leaf-cutting Bees)

(Table of Species)

The Leaf-Cutter Bees (682 NA spp) provision with pollen collected on their abdominal scopae. Forewing has only two submarginal cells. They generally nest in hollow twigs and partition larval chambers with leaf cuttings. Most species have shorter flight seasons and are more oligolectic than the Halictids. The most common genera are Osmia (small and metallic blue) and Megachile (large and black).

Osmia distincta is the most commonly collected member of the genus. Other species of Osmia (atriventris, albiventris, simillima, tersula) are infrequently collected. Species of Megachile are largely only tentatively identified. A small species of Megachile ?relativa? is quite common. Other species of Megachile (?geminata, montivaga, latimana, gemula, brevis, frigida, inermis, pugnata?) are less frequently encountered.

Infrequently collected Megachilids include: Anthidium sp, Dianthidium simile (Chrysopsis villosa), Stelis lateralis, Heriades carinata, Hoplitis spp (pilosifrons, +), and Coelioxys spp (moesta, rufitarsis, atlantica, alternata?). Species of Coelioxys are kleptoparasitic on other Megachilids.

jhaar@lter.umn.edu Last updated May, 2000