Megachilidae
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Megachilidae is a cosmopolitan family of mostly solitary bees. Characteristic traits of this family include the restriction of the pollen-carrying scopa to the entire ventral surface of the abdomen an
Anthidium manicatum male
A leaf-cutter bee showing abdominal scopa
Megachile centuncularis cutting a leaf
Megachile sp. with cut leaf
Mason bee
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Mason bees are bees in the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other "masonry" products in constructing their nests, which are made in natural
Megachilidae
…rather than primarily on the hind legs as in most other bee families) and their typically elongated labra. Megachilid genera are most commonly known as mason bees and leafcutter bees, reflecting the materials from which they build their nest cells (soil or leaves, respectively); a few collect plant or animal hairs…
Osmia rufa couple
Homemade nest block showing full occupancy
Mason bee nest cell with egg on pollen bed
Worksheet cycle of larvae to cocoon