Hymenoptera194 species

Family Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies (Megachilidae)

Megachilidae is a family in the order Hymenoptera. Browse 194 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Megachilidae (194)

Anthidiellum ehrhorni

Identification: marked with a pale cream to bright yellow pattern on black

Anthidium banningense

Identification: Females - T6 with long, acute lateral angle and terga densely punctate.

Anthidium emarginatum

A discussion of " Anthidium emarginatum , its Life-history and Parasites" appears in Davison(1895) .

Anthidium florentinum

Identification: Very similar to A. manicatum in size and coloration. Considered an efficient pollinator of alfalfa.

Anthidium illustre

Identification: T-VII of males with a short, blunt center spine (Grigarick & Stange):

Oblong Wool-carder Bee

Anthidium oblongatum

Identification: Distinguished from A. maculatum by orange tegulae [comment at ] earliest NA record: e. PA 1995

Harebell Carpenter Bee

Chelostoma campanularum

A tiny, narrow bodied, black bee. It has white pollen collecting hairs on underside of abdomen. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from photos taken in the field. All red-rated records should include

Sleepy Carpenter Bee

Chelostoma florisomne

A larger version of the more frequently encountered C. campanularum ; of the same general long, thin cylindrical shape, but with distinctive white bands of short hairs on the apices of the abdominal segments. The males also have a two-pronged peg on

Chelostoma philadelphi

Identification: Chelostoma are longer than most Osmini because of their elongated thorax. Identifying this genus means noticing where the tegula lie in relation to the thorax. Pretend you are drawing a "+" on the thorax. The ends of Chelostoma tegula

Coelioxys alternatus

Medler (1964) reported rearing Coelioxys alternatus from trap nests provisioned by Megachile pugnata . (Baker J. R. 1975 and Mitchell, T.B. 1962)

Coelioxys banksi

Medler and Koerber (1958) reported rearing Coelioxys banksi from nests of Megachile relativa.

Coelioxys coturnix

Non native, from Europe, where it is rather uncommon. Introduced very recently.

Coelioxys dolichos

The host is Megachile xylocopoides (per comment by John S. Ascher here ).

Coelioxys edita

Texas Bee expert Jack Neff has noted that in both sexes, the axilla is carinate. [This information is confirmed in the reference below.]

Coelioxys elongata

This is a darkly coloured bee 11 to 15 mm in length with narrow, sharply defined bands of pale hairs on the abdomen, hairy eyes and a toothed scutellum. As with all species in this genus, the female has a distinctively pointed end to the abdomen, whi

Shiny-vented Sharp-tail Bee

Coelioxys inermis

One of three Coelioxys species with similar tips to the female's sternite 6 (two sharp teeth on either side near apex). Females are more easily determined than males and can be separated from female C. mandibularis by the shape of the mandibles; from

Coelioxys modestus

Coelioxys modestus hosts include Megachile centuncularis and M. campanulae wilmingtoni . (Mitchell, T.B., 1962)

Coelioxys octodentatus

Identification: Octodentatus can be difficult to distinguish from sayi , especially in the males. Separating characters include: 1- The distance from the lateral ocelli to the vertex margin is larger than the distance between the lateral ocelli 2- Th

Coelioxys porterae

Megachile relativa and M. frigida have been recorded as hosts of Coelioxys porterae . (Baker J. R., 1975)

Coelioxys rufitarsis

Cleptoparasite of Megachile latimanus and M. melanophaea . (Mitchell, T.B., 1962)

Coelioxys sayi

Identification: bilobed clypeus ( ref. ) Medler (1965) reported Megachile mendica to he a host of Coelioxys sayi and K. V. Krombein has reared Coelioxys sayi from nests of Megachile mendica at Lake Placid, Fla. This bee has also been recovered from

Coelioxys texanus

"Krombein (1967) reported rearing Coelioxys texanus from trap nests provisioned by Megachile policaris ." (Baker J. R., 1975)

Welted Lesser Mason Bee

Hoplitis claviventris

A smallish mason bee closely resembling an Osmia species. Length 4-6mm, shiny blue black abdomen, pollen brush beneath abdomen is cream/white (c.f. Osmia spp, pollen brush black or orange). Forewing with 3 submarginal cells, tarsi with an arolium bet

Lithurgopsis apicalis

Identification: Some populations have conspicuous bright orange hairs at the tip of the metasoma

Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee

Lithurgus chrysurus

Identification: Distinctive red color of the female. Tridentate mandible with the middle tooth being longest. Non-native. First discovered in this country in Phillipsburg, Warren County, NJ in 1978. The second time this species was recorded in the Un

Megachile angelarum

The most common member of subgenus Chelostomoides in cismontane California. Cavity nester, collects resins and gums.

Megachile bahamensis

Identification: Note the ferruginous mid and hind tarsi (blackish in the otherwise similar M. xylocopoides ).

Megachile centuncularis

A medium-sized bee (10 to 12 mm long). The abdomen is dark brown above, but the female has an orange pollen brush underneath. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from photos taken in the field. All red

Megachile chichimeca

Identification: According to references below, some hallmark traits of Megachile chichimeca are: it is small and slender; there are prominent tufts of white hairs located near the base of the bee’s wings; the back edge of the bee’s thorax is fringed

Megachile frigida

Identification: It has dark front tibiae unlike M. latimanus Nests underground.

Megachile ligniseca

One of a suite of eight superficially similar species. All are medium to large sized solitary bees. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rarely be identified from photos taken in the field. All red-rated records should incl

Megachile montivaga

It collects petals, rather than leaves, for nest building.

Megachile parallela

Identification: "The female of M. parallela is distinct, and can be recognized by apex of S6, which has a bare, slightly upturned rim projecting slightly beyond the dense fringe of short, dark hairs." [this character also present in other species in

Pugnacious Leafcutter Bee

Megachile pugnata

Identification: In the female the clypeus is shortened and thickened producing a vertical face.

Megachile pusilla

Introduced, probably from southern Europe or North Africa

Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee

Megachile rotundata

Identification: Narrow white sternal hair bands. Introduced from the Old World sometime after the 1930s.

Sculptured Resin Bee

Megachile sculpturalis

Identification: body cylindrical, 14-24 mm in length (longer than most bees in NA), females usually larger than males; head and abdomen black, thorax covered with dense yellowish-brown hairs, wings dark but transparent Mangum & Bambara They are oppor

Megachile umbripennis

Reported in S Florida by multiple investigators including J. Wiley and S. Lenberger. Here's a specimen record: Discover Life

Megachile versicolor

Females from the British mainland have the scopal hairs on sterna 5-6 black. Those from the Isle of Man and from Ireland have them extensively golden red, although the black form has been seen in Ireland too. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficul

Leafcutter Bee

Megachile willughbiella

Length 12 to 18 mm. A large leafcutter bee, the males of which have distinctive white flattened front tarsi. Females of this genus can be difficult to identify, even under a microscope. It is the commonest leafcutter bee and the species most likely t

Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee

Megachile xylocopoides

Identification: A very dark Megachile , resembles a Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa , especially such blue-black species as Xylocopa micans . Quoting from Bees of Florida : Subgenus Melanosarus Mitchell, 2 species. A neotropical subgenus with 2 species in th

Osmia aglaia

One of the native bees used in agriculture - see Oregon Berry Project .

Two-coloured Mason Bee

Osmia bicolor

The female of this small (12 mm) bee is particularly attractive, with a black head and thorax and bright gingery hairs covering the abdomen. In the male the ginger is less striking. Most solitary bees and wasps are difficult to identify, and can rare

Red Mason Bee

Osmia bicornis

Greyish-brown hair on the thorax and orange-red on the abdomen. The head features two inwardly-curved facial horns below the antennae. The only other British Osmia species with this feature is O. cornuta, which resembles a large black and bright oran

Osmia botitena

Identification: "...appears to be what I've been calling O. botitena , a somewhat problematic species since the type is AWOL." Det. John L. Neff, 2015 Central Texas Melittological Institute

Bufflehead Mason Bee

Osmia bucephala

Identification: Bombus -like color pattern of female. Modified legs of male.

Blue Mason Bee

Osmia caerulescens

Length 8 to 10 mm. The females have large box-shaped heads and a blue metallic lustre to the abdomen giving rise to its common name, with a black pollen basket on the hind legs. The males are bronze with pale yellow hairs and a shining slope at the f

Blue Calamintha Bee

Osmia calaminthae

Currently only known from sandy scrub at four sites in the southern Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County, Florida

Hornfaced Bee

Osmia cornifrons

They are used in Japan to pollinate apple trees and were deliberately introduced to the United States by USDA scientists in the 1970s for the same purpose, even though the very similar native species Osmia lignaria occurs here and can be managed in a

Osmia cornuta

Dark thorax with dark hairs and bright orange-red abdomen (more strongly contrasting than Osmia bicornis). Long inwardly-curved facial horns on the head below the antennae (longer than in Osmia bicornis). Males have a large patch of long white hairs

Osmia integra

O. integra is known from coastal CA sand dunes (e.g., San Francisco, as recorded by White, 1952:293). It is similar in hair color to O. longula , but that is a montane species in California

Orange-vented Mason Bee

Osmia leaiana

10mm females, 6mm males. As with all Osmia species, it has a large box-shaped head (similar in size to the thorax). Females have a dense orange pollen brush under the abdomen. Males lack the pollen brush and are generally dark, often metallic green,

Blue Orchard Bee

Osmia lignaria

Identification: Metallic blue, almost black. It is being managed and developed for use as fruit trees pollinator. Management of O. lignaria . Field use of an incubation box The clerid Lecontella brunnea (Spinola) was reared from the nest of Osmia lig

Osmia montana

Identification: "The smooth, shining, and concave lower face (including clypeus) and nearly black (not green or blue) integument is typical of O. montana." - JSA ( ref. )

Spined Mason Bee

Osmia spinulosa

The taxonomy of Osmia spinulosa has been the subject of considerable debate. Recent genetic work carried out in Switzerland by Mueller, shows that this taxon should correctly be placed within the genus Osmia rather than left within Hoplitis . Records

Pseudoanthidium nanum

Identification: About the size or a little smaller than Osmia pumila . Discovered in the New World by Sarah Kornbluth in New Jersey and identified by John S. Ascher. Subsequently reported from Maryland and several other states.

Stelis costalis

Very similar to S. louisae , and there is much potential for confusion where this species overlaps (unfortunately potential overlap is not well known at this point).

Stelis lateralis

Parasitizes (Alcidamea simplex ) Robertsonella simplex (Cresson); Hoplitis pilosifrons and H. producta

Stelis laticincta

Cleptoparasitic on Megachile . The host is a Megachile (Chelostomoides) , likely M. angelarum .

Trachusa cordaticeps

Identification: Extensively red markings very distinctive Color pattern matches that of some Eumeninae, Cercerini and other wasps

Trachusa timberlakei

Once considered a subspecies of T. zebratum , which it resembles. Although widespread, apparently is locally uncommon.

Northern Rotund-Resin Bee

Anthidiellum notatum

Anthidiellum perplexum

Anthidiellum robertsoni

Edwards' Wool-carder Bee

Anthidium edwardsii

Anthidium maculifrons

Anthidium maculosum

European Wool-carder Bee

Anthidium manicatum

Pacific Wool-carder Bee

Anthidium palliventre

Porter's Wool-carder Bee

Anthidium porterae

Anthidium psoraleae

Anthidium utahense

Ashmeadiella bigeloviae

Ashmeadiella bucconis

Ashmeadiella eurynorhyncha

Ashmeadiella meliloti

Ashmeadiella rubrella

Ashmeadiella xenomastax

Chelostoma californicum

Chelostoma phaceliae

Chelostoma rapunculi

Coelioxys aztecus

Coelioxys germanus

Coelioxys hunteri

Coelioxys immaculatus

Coelioxys menthae

Coelioxys mexicanus

Coelioxys obtusiventris

Coelioxys slossoni

Dianthidium arizonicum

Dianthidium curvatum

Dianthidium floridiense

Dianthidium pudicum

Dianthidium simile

Texas Pebble Bee

Dianthidium texanum

Dioxys productus

Heriades carinata

Heriades leavitti

Large-headed Armoured-Resin bee

Heriades truncorum