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Leafcutter Bee

(c) Catherine C. Galley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Catherine C. Galley

Leafcutter Bee

Megachile parallela

insectView on iNaturalist

Medium leafcutter bee, metallic blue-black with bright orange abdomen. Cuts leaf sections for nest lining; efficient pollinator of native milkweeds and clovers. Solitary pollinator supporting native flowers.

Plants that support Leafcutter Bee

2 plants

Heermann's Tarweed

Holocarpha heermannii

moderate

annual

spring foraging period

Bay Area native

Telegraph weed

Heterotheca grandiflora

moderate

annual

Pollen foraging during blooming period

Bay Area native