Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee
Megachile xylocopoides
This record describes Megachile xylocopoides (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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 the USA. M. bahamensis is restricted to SE Florida while M. xylocopoides likely occurs throughout the state.... Megachilidae: Megachile xylocopoides Smith. ... Dates: March to November. Notes: primarily a coastal plain species of the SE USA; extends west to to the western deserts. Smith ( 1853 ) gave length of male as 5 lines, female 6 lines. If this refers to the English line (1/12 inch, or about 2.1 mm as used by botanists, though sometimes reckoned as 1/10 inch!), that gives 10-11 mm for the male, 12-13 mm for female.
Wikipedia reference for Megachile xylocopoides: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megachile_xylocopoides.
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
Southeastern United States, esp. coastal plain Discover Life Global Map
Seasonal Activity
March-November (Florida). May-September (North Carolina)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images. Pollen specialist on Asteraceae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: From the large-carpenter-bee genus Xylocopa + the Greek ending -oides (-οιδης)- "looking like, like"
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Megachile xylocopoides. 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 Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Lynette Elliott , Chuck Entz , John S. Ascher , hg , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee
What is Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee?
Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee (Megachile xylocopoides) is a species in the family Megachilidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee?
♂ 10-11 mm; ♀ 12-13 mm (Smith, 1853--see Remarks)
How do you identify Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee?
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 the USA. M. bahamensis is restricted to SE Florida while M. xylocopoides likely occurs throughout the state.... Megachilidae: Megachile xylocopoides Smith. ... Dates: March to November. Notes: primarily a coastal plain species of the SE USA; extends west to to the western deserts.
Where is Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee found?
Range: Southeastern United States, esp. coastal plain Discover Life Global Map
What does Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee eat?
The diet of the Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee includes The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images. Pollen specialist on Asteraceae..
When is Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee active?
Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee: seasonal activity - March-November (Florida). May-September (North Carolina).