Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile centuncularis)

Females cut perfectly rounded pieces from leaves and use them to line their nests, creating a patchwork effect inside pre-existing cavities. Each brood cell is provisioned with a mixture of nectar and pollen for the growing larvae.

No, Megachile centuncularis is a solitary bee, meaning each female builds and provisions her own nest without a queen or workers. They commonly nest in hollow plant stems, dead wood, or man-made bee hotels.

While you might notice neat, circular pieces missing from the edges of your rose leaves, the bees do not harm the overall health of the plant. The leaf fragments are simply used as construction material for their brood cells.

This solitary bee belongs to the Megachilidae family and is found across much of Europe and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere. They are common visitors to urban and suburban gardens during the summer months.