Hymenoptera: Megachilidae

Leafcutter bees are solitary bees that do not produce colonies. Nesting is done alone by the female, which emerges in late spring. Overwintering occurs as a larva in the nest cells. Nests ususally are excavated out of soft, rotten wood or the pith of plants but can also occur in existing holes of the proper size, including holes in clay banks or stone walls. Some leafcutter bees are semidomesticated and can be managed by providing them with predrilled "bee boards."

As the name indicates, many leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.) cut leaves which are used in constructing nest cells. The leafcutter bees known as mason bees (Osmia spp.) similarly nest in existing or newly excavated hollows.They line their cells with mud, however, and do not cut leaf fragments. Leafcutter bees have an annual life cycle, with one generation produced per year. Winter is spent as a fullgrown larvae in the cell. The larvae pupate in spring and emerge in early summer.

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