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Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee

Megachile rotundata

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee (Megachile rotundata)

The Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee is a small, introduced solitary bee from Eurasia that is the primary managed pollinator of alfalfa seed production in North America. Females cut neat, circular pieces from leaves to construct tube nests in cavities. It is one of the most important economically managed insects after the honey bee.

Habitat
Alfalfa fields, gardens, and areas with cavity nesting sites
Diet
Adults: pollen and nectar of alfalfa and other flowers. Larvae: pollen provisions
How common
Common

Best time to see a Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee

The best time to see a Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee is June–July, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 722 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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