Species Details

Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameLeafcutter bee SeasonalityEmerge early July to early August (Fye 1965). May to October in southern parts (Mitchell 1962). IdentificationFemales: Relatively small body size with a length of 9-12 mm, stout and completely black body with yellow spurs (articulated spine). Eyes become slightly convergent near the bottom. Soft downy hair (pubescence) is white and is quite dense around the antennae, lower face, cheeks, lateral and posterior thorax, lateral abdomen, and between dorsal abdomen segments. Wings are subhyaline (sub transparent). Large cheeks, only slightly wider than the eyes and mouth mandibles have 5 tooth projections. Pollen collecting “scopa” on the ventral abdomen with dense yellowish short hairs. (Mitchell 1962). Males: Body length of 8-10 mm, stout and completely black body and slightly reddish legs. Eyes become slightly convergent near the bottom. Large cheeks that are slightly wider then the eyes and mouth mandibles have 3 tooth projections. Pubescence are white and very dense around the antennae, lower face, cheeks below, lateral and posterior thorax. Wings are subhyaline (sub transparent). Tergum (dorsal abdomen segment) 7 is prominent, broad, short and has a deep excavation. Sternum (ventral abdomen segment) 5 is short and restricted. Sternum 6 has few setae on each side of the midline with no obvious apical lobe. Genital armatures have slender gonocoxites with a sharp appearing apex. (Mitchell 1962).

Scientific Name Megachile relativa Common Name Leafcutter bee Habitat Prefers nesting sites at woodland edges (Medler & Koerber 1958); bores into wood (Krombein et al.). Seasonality Emerge early July to early August (Fye 1965). May to October in southern parts (Mitchell 1962). Identification
Females: Relatively small body size with a length of 9-12 mm, stout and completely black body with yellow spurs (articulated spine). Eyes become slightly convergent near the bottom. Soft downy hair (pubescence) is…
Females: Relatively small body size with a length of 9-12 mm, stout and completely black body with yellow spurs (articulated spine). Eyes become slightly convergent near the bottom. Soft downy hair (pubescence) is white and is quite dense around the antennae, lower face, cheeks, lateral and posterior thorax, lateral abdomen, and between dorsal abdomen segments. Wings are subhyaline (sub transparent). Large cheeks, only slightly wider than the eyes and mouth mandibles have 5 tooth projections. Pollen collecting “scopa” on the ventral abdomen with dense yellowish short hairs. (Mitchell 1962). Males: Body length of 8-10 mm, stout and completely black body and slightly reddish legs. Eyes become slightly convergent near the bottom. Large cheeks that are slightly wider then the eyes and mouth mandibles have 3 tooth projections. Pubescence are white and very dense around the antennae, lower face, cheeks below, lateral and posterior thorax. Wings are subhyaline (sub transparent). Tergum (dorsal abdomen segment) 7 is prominent, broad, short and has a deep excavation. Sternum (ventral abdomen segment) 5 is short and restricted. Sternum 6 has few setae on each side of the midline with no obvious apical lobe. Genital armatures have slender gonocoxites with a sharp appearing apex. (Mitchell 1962).
Life History
Reported univoltine (one generation reaches maturity per year) in Ontario and bivoltine (two generations reaches maturity per year) in Wisconsin (Fye 1965, Medler & Lussenhop 1968). Nests are constructed by the mother…
Reported univoltine (one generation reaches maturity per year) in Ontario and bivoltine (two generations reaches maturity per year) in Wisconsin (Fye 1965, Medler & Lussenhop 1968). Nests are constructed by the mother bee with loosely packed leaf pieces to create the thimble-shaped cells and the nest entrance is plugged with circular leaf pieces (Medler & Koerber 1958) followed by a layer of chewed leaves and clay (Fye 1965, Medler & Koerber 1958). Nests appear rough in texture (Fye 1965). Eggs are laid in the cells and hatch 2 - 3 days later. There are 4 larval stages, which feed on the provisioning left by the mother bee (Medler & Koerber 1958). The last larval stage produces a reddish brown silk cocoon in the cell and pupates approximately 7 to 10 days later and all of the adult bees in the nest emerge at the same time (Medler & Koerber 1958). Nesting under rocks has been observed in Wisconsin (Medler & Lussenhop 1968). Nest site competition has been observed where eumenid and pompilid wasps take over M. relativa nests and vica versa (Medler & Koerber 1958). Parasitism by parasitic bees includes Coelioxys spp. and the large chalcoid wasp Leucospis affinis (Krombein 1970, Medler & Koerber 1958).
Conservation No information indicating any concern. Diet Info
Polylectic (collects pollen from wide range of flowering plants) (Krombein et al. 1970). Pollen from various flowers includes Aster spp. and Rubus spp. (Krombein et al., Medler & Koerber 1958). Commonly cut leafs…
Polylectic (collects pollen from wide range of flowering plants) (Krombein et al. 1970). Pollen from various flowers includes Aster spp. and Rubus spp. (Krombein et al., Medler & Koerber 1958). Commonly cut leafs for their nests from flower species including Amelanchier spp., Epilobium anustifolium and Lonicera canadensis (Fye 1965).
Range MacKenzie to Newfoundland and south to Arizona, Tennessee, California, Illinois and Georgia (Krombein et al. 1970).

Citation

Page Citation for Megachile relativa

Page Citation

"Species Details - Megachile relativa, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-5847. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Tirlea, D.
Role species page author
Date 2005

References

Specimen Information

There are 27 specimens of this Species.

26 results plotted on map in 20 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM53588 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wabamun Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1931-07-08

UASM53589 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1931-06-26

UASM53590 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Gull Lake Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1932-07-07

UASM53591 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Golden Spike Collected ByQuiring, T. Date Collected1957-07-11

UASM53592 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1939-07-10

UASM53593 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Delia Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1931-07-22

UASM53594 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Beaverlodge Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1931-07-19

UASM53595 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nordegg Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1926-07-21

UASM53596 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1926-07-22

UASM53597 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Fawcett Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1932-06-20

UASM53598 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wabamun Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1938-08-02

UASM53599 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1926-07-22

UASM53600 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wabamun Collected ByStrickland, E. H. Date Collected1939-07-03

UASM340497 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Vegreville Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-06-24

UASM340508 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-06-22

UASM340510 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-08-04

UASM340516 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-07-14

UASM340528 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-06-30

UASM340529 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-07-62

UASM340535 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-06-25

UASM340536 - Megachile relativa

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2012-07-11

Adult Seasonal Distribution