Megachile, a member of the Megachilidae family.
Also known as “Leafcutter” or “Mason Bees”, Megachilids are easy to recognize because they don’t carry pollen on their legs, but rather use rows of stiff hairs on the underside of their abdomens. Megachilids also have wide heads to accommodate the strong jaws they use to cut leaves and gather nesting material. The majority of Megachilids nest in existing cavities above the ground and construct these nests by collecting leaves, petals, and wet soil used to line and divide the nest. Megachilids that commonly visit Echinacea are Coelioxys, Heriades, and Megachile. (Mader at al. 220)
(Mader et al. Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees andButterflies. 2011. The Xerces Society.)
