Megachile rotundata
Videos
Megachile rotundata, the alfalfa leafcutting bee, is a European bee that has been introduced to various regions around the world. As a solitary bee species, it does not build colonies or store honey,
ARS Megachile rotundata
Heads-on view of female
Backside of female, showing such features as the thorax, abdomen, wings, and color of the body hairs
One predator of M. rotundata, Trichodes ornatus, on a yellow inflorescence
Alfalfa
Videos
Medicago sativa, commonly known as alfalfa in North America and lucerne in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae.
Megachile rotundata
…to various regions around the world. As a solitary bee species, it does not build colonies or store honey, but is a very efficient pollinator of alfalfa, carrots, other vegetables, and some fruits. Because of this, farmers often use M. rotundata as a pollination aid by distributing M. rotundata prepupae…
75 Medicago sativa L
Foliage and flowers
Flowers
Yellow flowers