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TranslateMegachile willughbiella (kirby, 1802)
Megachile willughbiella (Kirby, 1802) Willughby’s Leafcutter Bee.
Female 8.5mm to 10.5mm. Male 7.5mm to 9mm.
Flight season... Late May to Late August.
Habitats and Nesting…A wide variety of habitats are visited, including urban gardens and brownfield sites; which are also favourite sites used for nesting. This species is a versatile nester and will see the potential for nesting in all manner of cavities including holes in…. walls, window frames, earth filled flower-pots, wooden fences and sometimes in the ground. It is also keen on using garden bee-hotels.
Megachile willughbiella is a widespread and common species found all over the United Kingdom, although numbers are reportedly declining in parts of Ireland and also the northern parts of Scotland. M. willughbiella can be found in western Europe from Spain to Lithuania and Finland
Flowers visited…Various assortment of wild and cultivated plants are visited including, Bellflowers, bird’s-foot-trefoils, thistles, knapweeds, willow herbs, and a variety of garden plants are also on the menu for pollen and nectar.
Parasites… Cleptoparasitic bees of the genus Coelioxys, including C. rufescens, C. quadridentate, and C. elongata
In the images below are of the female M. willughbiella
Read MoreFemale 8.5mm to 10.5mm. Male 7.5mm to 9mm.
Flight season... Late May to Late August.
Habitats and Nesting…A wide variety of habitats are visited, including urban gardens and brownfield sites; which are also favourite sites used for nesting. This species is a versatile nester and will see the potential for nesting in all manner of cavities including holes in…. walls, window frames, earth filled flower-pots, wooden fences and sometimes in the ground. It is also keen on using garden bee-hotels.
Megachile willughbiella is a widespread and common species found all over the United Kingdom, although numbers are reportedly declining in parts of Ireland and also the northern parts of Scotland. M. willughbiella can be found in western Europe from Spain to Lithuania and Finland
Flowers visited…Various assortment of wild and cultivated plants are visited including, Bellflowers, bird’s-foot-trefoils, thistles, knapweeds, willow herbs, and a variety of garden plants are also on the menu for pollen and nectar.
Parasites… Cleptoparasitic bees of the genus Coelioxys, including C. rufescens, C. quadridentate, and C. elongata
In the images below are of the female M. willughbiella
