Megachile fidelis, the faithful leafcutting bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae.
This species is found in the western United States, where it ranges from Montana and South Dakota to New Mexico, west to California and north to Oregon, and often inhabits meadows and gardens. The bee is black, but covered by golden/yellow hair on its face, behind its eyes, on its thorax, below its wings (which are blackish) and on its legs. The pollen basket of the species is located under its abdomen. As often found with most bees, Megachile fidelis feeds on the nectar of flowers - particularly the nectar of composite flowers. The nests of M. fidelis are created in almost exactly the same fashion as, M. perihirta, the Western Leafcutting Bee. However, adult bees do not leave their brood cells until all the cells between their cell and the end of the tunnel have been vacated. As with the case of many bees, larva grow extremely rapidly when in their brood cells. It is often found that this species of bee leave their nests around spring.[2]
The species was first described by Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1878.[1]
Megachile fidelis, the faithful leafcutting bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae.
This species is found in the western United States, where it ranges from Montana and South Dakota to New Mexico, west to California and north to Oregon, and often inhabits meadows and gardens. The bee is black, but covered by golden/yellow hair on its face, behind its eyes, on its thorax, below its wings (which are blackish) and on its legs. The pollen basket of the species is located under its abdomen. As often found with most bees, Megachile fidelis feeds on the nectar of flowers - particularly the nectar of composite flowers. The nests of M. fidelis are created in almost exactly the same fashion as, M. perihirta, the Western Leafcutting Bee. However, adult bees do not leave their brood cells until all the cells between their cell and the end of the tunnel have been vacated. As with the case of many bees, larva grow extremely rapidly when in their brood cells. It is often found that this species of bee leave their nests around spring.
The species was first described by Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1878.
Megachile fidelis is een vliesvleugelig insect uit de familie Megachilidae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1878 door Cresson.[1]
Bronnen, noten en/of referentiesMegachile fidelis[2] är en biart som beskrevs av Cresson 1878. Megachile fidelis ingår i släktet tapetserarbin och familjen buksamlarbin.[3][4] Inga underarter finns listade.[3]
Arten har lång, gul till brunaktig behåring på huvud och mellankropp samt gulaktiga ändfransar i slutet av de annars svarta tergiterna (bakkroppssegmenten). Vingarna har rödbruna ribbor och är mörkare i framdelen. Hanen blir 10 till 12 mm lång, honan 11 till 13 mm.[5]
Megachile fidelis besöker blommande växter från ett stort antal familjer, som korgblommiga växter, strävbladiga växter, ärtväxter, slideväxter, brakvedsväxter och rosväxter. Den föredrar dock solrosor.[1] Arten är ett solitärt (icke samhällsbildande) bi; som alla tapetserarbin konstruerar honan larvbon som hon klär med utskurna bladbitar och fyller med nektar och pollen som föda åt larverna.[6]
Arten förekommer i västra Kanada (södra British Columbia[1]) och västra USA[7].
Megachile fidelis är en biart som beskrevs av Cresson 1878. Megachile fidelis ingår i släktet tapetserarbin och familjen buksamlarbin. Inga underarter finns listade.
Megachile fidelis là một loài Hymenoptera trong họ Megachilidae. Loài này được Cresson mô tả khoa học năm 1878.[2]
Megachile fidelis là một loài Hymenoptera trong họ Megachilidae. Loài này được Cresson mô tả khoa học năm 1878.