Leafcutter Bees are a diverse genus of summer time bees with at least 16 species in Vermont. As the name implies, they cut leaves (and occasionally flower pedals) to line their nests, which are either in hollow stems or ground cavities. Many can occasionally be identified from photos, including at least one that is globally rare and a few others that have yet to be found in Vermont. Hosts to Cuckoo Leaf-cutter Bees (Genus Coelioxys).

Abdomenal scopa
Females family Megachilidae
Modified front legs
Males, subgenus Xanthosarus
Distance between ocelli much less than distance to rear margin of head
Unarmed Leafcutter
Massive mandibules, large cheek
Female Rugose-fronted Resin Bee
Large spine on check corner
Female Pugnacious Leafcutter
Genus level ID – As with all non-parasitic members of the family Megachilidae, females collect pollen under their abdomen. Most species are larger than the other Megachilidae in Vermont and many have abundant hairs. Some males have enlarged and colorful front legs.
Simplified Key for Females
Large and scary with a big head and short orange hair on the thorax -> Sculpture Resin Bee
Pale hair on thorax, T1 and T2 only, dark scopal hairs -> Small handed or Black-and-gray
Large with a distinct point under the chin, associated with sunflowers -> Pugnacious Leafcutter Bee
Small, slender, with minimal hairs, associated with bell flowers -> Bellflower Resin Bee
Small, white hair bands underneath scopal hairs, associated with non-native legumes -> Alfalfa Leafcutter
Large, ocelli far from rear edge of head, associated with composites -> Unarmed Leafcutter Bee
Medium sized, extremely exaggerated mandibles, rare -> Rugose-fronted Resin Bee
Field Identifiable Leafcutter Bees

Sculptured Resin Bee
Megachile sculpturalis
Small-handed Leaf-cutter Bee
Megachile gemula
Black-and-gray Leafcutter Bee
Megachile melanophaea
Common Little Leaf-cutter Bee
Megachile brevis
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee
Megachile rotundata
Texas Leafcutter
Megachile texana
Silver-tailed Petalcutter Bee
Megachile montivaga
Bellflower Resin Bee
Megachile campanulae
Flat-tailed Leafcutter Bee
Megachile mendica
Broad-handed Leaf-cutter Bee
Megachile latimanus
Unarmed Leafcutter Bee
Megachile inermis
Frigid Leafcutter
Megachile frigida
Pugnacious Leafcutter Bee
Megachile pugnata
Rugose-fronted Resin Bee
Megachile rugifronsGolden-tailed Leafcutter Bee
Megachile relativaPatchwork Leafcutter Bee
Megachile centuncularisUnless otherwise specified, photos are courtesy of Margarita Miklasevskaja at PCYU with funding from NSERC-CANPOLIN.