Leafcutter Bee (Megachile sp.)

Another group of under appreciated pollinators to recognize for Pollinator week are our native bees. 

 

 

In the world of bees, news is often dominated by the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and our native bees are easily overlooked. 

 

 

Native bees in the Bay Area are surprisingly difficult to find but was lucky enough to spend some time in the summer last year at the wonderfully curated Elizabeth Gamble garden in Palo Alto. 

 

 

Bee 'hotels' in the gardens attract a variety of native bees to the garden. 

 

 

Here is a leafcutter bee (Megachile sp.) on a chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus).