Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee
Megachile rotundata
This record describes Megachile rotundata (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Narrow white sternal hair bands. Introduced from the Old World sometime after the 1930s.
Identification notes
Narrow white sternal hair bands.
Wikipedia reference for Megachile rotundata: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megachile_rotundata.
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
Almost worldwide. Discover Life Global Map
Seasonal Activity
It flies in June, July and August.
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: Megachile rotundata (Fabricius, 1793)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Megachile rotundata. 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 Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ted Kropiewnicki; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , John S. Ascher , Vox Sciurorum , hg , PaleoJon , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee
What is Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee?
Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile rotundata) is a species in the family Megachilidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee?
Female 8-9 mm. Male 7-8 mm.
How do you identify Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee?
Narrow white sternal hair bands.
Where is Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee found?
Range: Almost worldwide. Discover Life Global Map
What does Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee eat?
The diet of the Alfalfa 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 Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee active?
Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bee: seasonal activity - It flies in June, July and August..