Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee
Megachile mendica
This record describes Megachile mendica (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Megachile mendica: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megachile_mendica.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Megachilidae (Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies)
- Subfamily
- Megachilinae
- Tribe
- Megachilini
- Genus
- Megachile (Leafcutter and Resin Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widely distributed in the United States, occurring from coast to coast, and from Maine to Florida in the East. Discover Life Global Map
Seasonal Activity
It is in flight throughout the season.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet mendica is Latin, meaning poor, or "a beggar" . Common name refers to flat profile of female T6.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Megachile mendica. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by cotinis , John S. Ascher , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee
Where is Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee found?
Range: Widely distributed in the United States, occurring from coast to coast, and from Maine to Florida in the East. Discover Life Global Map
What does Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee eat?
The diet of the Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee includes The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
When is Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee active?
Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee: seasonal activity - It is in flight throughout the season..