Leafcutter Bee (genus Megachile)

Aussie Bee Homepage > Native Bee Photo Gallery > Leafcutter Bees

The amazing handiwork of the leafcutter bees makes them one of the most fascinating bees in Australia!

A leafcutter bee snips a neat circle from a leaf. She will use these leaf pieces to weave tiny cradles for her eggs inside her nest burrow.
This wonderful photograph was contributed by Peter O.

This leafcutter bee is snipping a piece from a rose leaf.
This excellent photograph was contributed by Shirley Woods.

leafcutter and buddleja
Whilst rose leaves are one of the leafcutter's favourites, other soft leaves that they like to use include Buddleja (above) and wisteria.

The leafcutter bee always cuts extremely neat circles and ovals, unlike caterpillars which leave irregular holes in leaves.

For more photos and full articles on this bee,
click here