Megachile centuncularis (Linnaeus,1758)
Synonyms
Apis fastosus HARRIS 1776; Megachile parvula LEPELETIER 1841; Megachile infragilis CRESSON 1878; Megachile rufiventris SCHENCK 1851; Megachile appia NURSE 1903; Megachile leoni TITUS 1906;
Description and notes
An identification key is in Else (1999).
Distribution
A widespread species in Britain, although it is more frequently recorded from the south. It also occurs in the east of Ireland and on the Channel Islands.
Widespread in western Europe, from Spain and Italy in the south north to Fennoscandia.
Status (in Britain only)
This species is not regarded as being scarce or threatened.
Habitat
Gardens, both rural and urban provide suitable foraging for this species.
Flight period
This species is found from mid-June through to mid-August with its peak in July.
Pollen collected
Polylectic, recorded from Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Hypericaceae (Westrich, 1989).
Nesting biology
The nests are generally constructed within large burrows in wood, cavities in old walls and also occasionally in soil. Megachile species construct nests from cut pieces of green leaf. Megachile centuncularis uses 6-14 circular leaf pieces per cell body with 6-7 discs forming the lid to each cell. Ash, birch, honeysuckle, horse-chestnut, lilac and rose leaves are utilised.
Flowers visited
Like many other Megachile this species is often found at bramble and thistle flowers.
Parasites
Coelioxys inermis (Kirby) is known to be a cleptoparasite of this species of leaf-cutter bee.
Year profile last updated
2012