Leafcutting-bee

Guides

• Megachile pugnata pugnata

  sunflower leafcutting bee

  Megachile pugnata pugnata is a solitary leafcutting bee native to North America, notable for its specialized association with sunflowers (Helianthus). Females construct nests in pre-existing cavities using circular leaf pieces cut from host plants to form thimble-shaped brood cells. The subspecies exhibits strong instinctive aggregation behavior, preferentially clustering nests even when suitable cavities are abundant. It develops through complete metamorphosis with overwintering as a prepupa, and has been managed commercially for sunflower pollination.

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