Managed-species
Guides
Megachile rotundata
Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Alfalfa Leaf-Cutter Bee, Leafcutter Bee
Megachile rotundata is a solitary leafcutting bee native to Europe and the Mediterranean region, now widely established as a managed pollinator across North America and other continents. It is the second most important commercial pollinator globally after the honey bee, specifically renowned for its efficiency in alfalfa pollination. Females construct individual nests in pre-existing cavities, lining cells with precisely cut circular leaf pieces. The species is non-aggressive, does not produce honey, and has been introduced deliberately and accidentally to multiple regions for agricultural pollination services.