Megachilidae Collection

Small scissor bee (Chelostoma campanularum) In flight approaching garden bee hotel carrying mud to seal nest tube, Hertfordshire, England, UK, June

Composite image of Wallaceas giant bee (Megachile pluto) with European honey bee (Apis melifera)
Composite image of Wallaces giant bee (Megachile pluto) with European honey bee (Apis melifera). This is the worlds largest bee, which is approximately 4 times larger than a European honey bee

Two coloured mason bee (Osmia bicolor) bee that nests in old snail shells and then carries bits of twig or vegetation to cover the shell, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, June

Red mason bee (Osmia rufa) female emerging from her nest hole in a drilled log within an insect hotel after provisioning a brood cell with pollen, Gloucestershire garden, UK, April

Poppy bee (Osmia papaveris) resting on Common poppy (Papaver rhoeas) cutting piece of petal to use as nesting material, Bamberg, Germany. June

Poppy bee (Osmia papaveris) resting on piece of Common poppy (Papaver rhoeas) petal, cut from the flower to line its nest

Pair of Red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) mating on wallflower in garden. Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked

Ruby-tailed wasp (Chrysis ignita) curled up in defensive posture after being dragged from Silver leaf cutter bee (Megachile leachella) nest tunnel in sand dunes. Cornwall, England, UK. May

Patchwork leafcutter bee (Megachile centuncularis) feeding from Common marigold (Calendula officinalis) Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. April

Wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) female entering Rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea) flower. Pollen transferring to head from stamens on upper lip of flower

Blue mason bee (Osmia leaiana) gathering pollen from Fleabane flower, Oxfordshire, England, UK, August

Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) visiting Geranium sp flower, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK, May

Leaf-cutting bee (Megachile species) carrying leaf section. Surrey, England, UK, July

Harebell carpenter bee (Chelostoma campanularum) at 4-5mm long one of Britains smallest bees, visiting Giant harebell (Campanula latifolia) to collect pollen, Pentwyn farm SSSI, Gwent Wildlife Trust

Leafcutter bee, solitary bees (Megachile sp. ), adult feeding on Indian Blanket, Fire Wheel
Leafcutter bee, solitary bees (Megachile sp.), adult feeding on Indian Blanket, Fire Wheel (Gaillardia pulchella), Texas, USA

Megachile pluto, Wallaces giant bee

Mason Bee (Chalicodoma parietina) mud nests, attached to wall, Greece, April

Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) adult male, resting on leaf, Seaford, East Sussex, England, July

Shiny-vented Sharp-tail Bee (Coelioxys inermis) adult female, on Orange Hawkbit (Hieracium villosum) flower, Powys, Wales, June

Solitary Bee (Coelioxys elongata) adult female, feeding on flower, Kent, England, September

Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa) adult pair, mating, Powys, Wales, May

Stelidine Bee (Stelis phaeoptera) adult female, chewing into nest of Mason Bee (Osmia leaiana) to lay eggs on stored pollen mass, Powys, Wales, August

Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa) adult female, in flight to nesthole, Powys, Wales, May

Leafcutter Bee (Megachile ligniseca) adult, resting on leaf, Hadleigh Country Park, Essex, England, July

Red Mason Bee (Osmia rufa) adult female, in flight, carrying load of pollen to nesthole, Powys, Wales, May

Willoughby's Leafcutter Bee (Megachile willughbiella) adult, cutting disc from Birch (Betula sp)
Willoughby's Leafcutter Bee (Megachile willughbiella) adult, cutting disc from Birch (Betula sp.) leaf, Snailbeach, Shropshire, England, july

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Megachilidae, also known as leafcutter bees or mason bees, are fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in pollination. These industrious insects have unique nesting habits and resourceful ways of gathering materials for their nests. In Bamberg, Germany, a poppy bee called Osmia papaveris can be seen resting on a common poppy flower. This clever bee cuts small pieces of petals to use as nesting material. Bundled neatly, these petal packages are carefully unfolded and placed on sandy walls within the nest. Another species of the small scissor bee (Chelostoma campanularum). In flight, it approaches a garden bee hotel with precision and grace. These solitary bees create individual nests by excavating holes in wood or using pre-existing cavities. The Wallaceas giant bee (Megachile pluto) is an impressive sight when compared to the European honey bee (Apis melifera). A composite image showcases the size difference between these two species. Nature's creativity shines through with the colored mason bee (Osmia bicolor), which ingeniously nests inside old snail shells. It repurposes these shells into cozy homes for its offspring. A female red mason bee (Osmia rufa) emerges from her drilled log nest hole in Cornwall, England. The intricate process of creating these tunnels demonstrates the dedication and craftsmanship of this remarkable insect. Love is in the air for red mason bees. A pair can be observed mating on a wallflower in Hertfordshire, England. Their delicate dance ensures future generations of these beneficial pollinators. Ruby-tailed wasps may seem intimidating when curled up defensively after being dragged from a silver leaf cutter bee's nest tunnel in Cornwall, England. However, they serve as natural predators that help maintain ecological balance within their habitats.