Megachile montivaga

Cresson, 1878

Silver-tailed Petalcutter, Silver-tailed Petal-cutter Bee, Mégachile des collines

Megachile montivaga is a solitary leafcutter in the , described by Cresson in 1878. It is notable for its unusual nesting in live thistle plants (Cirsium neomexicanum), representing the first explicit Nearctic record of the Megachile nesting in live vegetation. The is widespread across North and Middle America and is commonly known as the silver-tailed petalcutter bee.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Megachile montivaga: //ˌmɛɡəˈkaɪli ˌmɒntɪˈveɪɡə//

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Habitat

Associated with live thistle plants (Cirsium neomexicanum, Asteraceae), in which it has been documented nesting. This represents an unusual nesting substrate for the .

Distribution

Widespread across North America and Middle America. GBIF records confirm presence in both regions.

Host Associations

Cirsium neomexicanum Gray - nesting substrateLive thistle plants used for nesting; first explicit Nearctic record of Megachile nesting in live plants

Behavior

Nests in live plants, specifically live thistle (Cirsium neomexicanum). This is rare for the Megachile, which is otherwise known for diverse nesting habits including use of pre-existing cavities and cut leaf pieces for nest construction.

More Details

Nesting Biology

The documentation of M. montivaga nesting in live thistle plants is significant because nesting in live vegetation is rare for the Megachile. Most Megachile nest in pre-existing cavities or construct free-standing nests, using cut leaves or petals to chambers. This record expands the known nesting repertoire of the genus in the Nearctic region.