Radoszkowskiana
Guides
Megachilini
leaf-cutter bees, resin bees, leaf-cutter and resin bees
Megachilini is the most species-rich tribe within the bee family Megachilidae, comprising four genera: Megachile, Coelioxys, Noteriades, and Radoszkowskiana. The tribe is notable for the leaf-cutting behavior exhibited by many Megachile species, wherein females cut and process fresh leaves for nest construction using specialized interdental laminae—razor-like structures between the mandibular teeth. This morphological innovation may have triggered subsequent diversification within the group. The tribe also includes cleptoparasitic genera (Coelioxys and Radoszkowskiana) that exploit Megachile nests. Phylogenetic relationships within and among genera remain poorly resolved despite the group's high diversity and global distribution.