Megachile gentilis

Cresson, 1872

Megachile gentilis is a solitary leafcutter in the , described by Cresson in 1872. It is a non-metallic, black bee that constructs nests using leaf pieces or resin. Females carry pollen on the underside of the and create "bee loaves" of pollen, nectar, and saliva to provision . The has been recorded in North America, Middle America, and Oceania.

Leafcutter bee pupae by Anna R. Holden, Jonathan B. Koch, Terry Griswold, Diane M. Erwin, Justin Hall. Used under a CC BY 2.5 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Megachile gentilis: /ˌmɛɡəˈkaɪli ˈdʒɛnˌtɪləs/

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Identification

Distinguished from other Megachile by the concave without ridges, nearly perpendicular , and linear notaulices. The combination of broad , straight margin, and lack of on and provides additional diagnostic features. Females can be recognized by the large used for cutting leaves and carrying resin.

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Appearance

A , non-metallic black . The section of is concave anteriorly and lacks ridges. The is nearly perpendicular to the rear of the propodeum, with a roughly straight margin and broad . and lack . Notaulices are linear. Males often have spinose and enlarged front . Females possess large, . The front have two attached to a submarginal . Four are visible, with four additional hidden sternites.

Habitat

Nests in soil, stems, twigs, or tunnels through rotting wood. Requires access to leaves or plant resin for nest construction and flowers for foraging.

Distribution

Recorded from North America, Middle America, and Oceania. GBIF distribution records indicate presence in these regions, though specific range boundaries within these areas are not well documented.

Diet

feed on nectar; feed on " loaves" composed of pollen, nectar, and saliva deposited by females in .

Life Cycle

Females construct nests in pre-existing cavities or excavated substrates, lining with cut leaf pieces or dried resin. Each cell is provisioned with a " loaf" of pollen, nectar, and saliva, upon which an is deposited. Cells are sealed with leaf material. feed on the provision, overwinter, and emerge the following spring by gnawing through nest walls.

Behavior

Solitary; females cut oval or circular leaf sections to nest , or alternatively collect dried resin in their for nest lining. Females carry pollen on scopal hairs beneath the ( ) rather than on leg baskets. Defends nest with weak .

Ecological Role

of wild plants and . As a leafcutter , contributes to through pollen transfer. Nest construction activities may provide incidental for other organisms in rotting wood or stems.

Human Relevance

Contributes to of and wild plants. Does not produce . Weak poses minimal threat to humans. May occasionally cut leaves from garden plants for nest construction, though damage is generally minor.

Similar Taxa

  • Megachile sculpturalisBoth are Megachile , but M. sculpturalis is larger, to Asia, and has been to North America. M. gentilis is smaller and native to the Americas.
  • Other Megachile speciesMany Megachile share leaf-cutting , but M. gentilis can be distinguished by the specific combination of tergal structure, angle, and lack of .

More Details

Etymology

The name Megachile derives from Greek mega (large; μέγας) and cheil (lips; χείλος), referring to the large mouthparts characteristic of the genus.

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