Willughby’s leafcutter bee
Megachile willughbiella
Conservation status: Common
When to see: June to August.
About
If you’ve noticed semi-circles cut out of your plant’s leaves, chances are you’ve had a visit from a leafcutter bee. There are seven different species of these fascinating creatures in the UK, with the patchwork leafcutter bee Megachile centuncularis and Willughby’s leafcutter bee Megachile willughbiella being the most commonly found in our gardens. While the females of these two species may look similar at first glance, there is a fundamental difference to look out for: the lack of an orange pollen brush under the abdomen of the female Willughby’s leafcutter bee. The other species of leafcutter bee are much rarer to spot!
| See also different: | Garden bees & wasps |
