Patchwork Leafcutter Bee

Found in gardens, the Patchwork Leafcutter Bee has a bright orange pollen brush and nests in bee hotels.

Identification

Females

A medium-sized bee, females have a bright-orange pollen brush beneath their abdomens with the orange hairs extending right to the tip. Other leafcutter species have black hairs at the tip. From above, these orange pollen-collecting hairs appear as a ‘halo’ around the abdomen. There are also defined white hair bands across the abdomen. It is a relatively small bee compared to other leafcutter species.

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Males

Males are more challenging to identify and look similar to other male leafcutter bees. Unlike Willughby’s Leafcutter Bee – another common garden visitor – the males do not have modified front feet.

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Ecology

A species of leafcutter bee, females cut sections of leaf with their jaws to use as nesting material. In gardens, rose leaves are preferred, and if you find semi-circular holes cut out of your garden plant leaves, you have likely had a leafcutter visitor! Within her nest, females will use these cut leaves to create a series of thimble-like leaf parcels.

Each parcel is made up of 10 or more sections of leaf and bound together with a saliva-like substance. Within each of her parcels is an egg supplied with a mixture of nectar and pollen. Females can be found occupying bee hotels but also nest in dead wood.

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Regional distribution

Patchwork Leafcutter Bee is one of the more widespread leafcutter bees in the region. It is likely to be found in gardens and nesting in garden bee hotels.