Leaf-cutting Bee
Lithurgusapicalis
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Regional
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Phoenix, Arizona
Las Vegas, Nevada(2 reports)
Brooklyn, New York
Wickliffe, Ohio
Crane, Texas
Houston, Texas
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Gardener's Notes:
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lightyellow
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL |
September 2017 |
Positive
These are cute little guys and are important native pollinators, they also are less aggressive than other bee species and are unlikely to sting. I of course wouldnt recommend an allergic person to futz with them but I have accidentally held one before and it didn't do anything and I also shoo them from my redbud and they don't do anything... same cannot be said of honeybees!
Some notes on their leaf-cutting behavior:
They don't take leaves year-round, only during times of nest building in my experience [did it June to July here in Florida].
They really favor thin, flat leaves for their use and seem to like my American redbud a little too much but they also eagerly cut up Desmodium incanum weeds (a recent invasive in my yard that I don't completely cul... read more
Some notes on their leaf-cutting behavior:
They don't take leaves year-round, only during times of nest building in my experience [did it June to July here in Florida].
They really favor thin, flat leaves for their use and seem to like my American redbud a little too much but they also eagerly cut up Desmodium incanum weeds (a recent invasive in my yard that I don't completely cul... read more
B
BarbMarch58
Wickliffe, OH |
May 2009 |
Neutral
For the first time in 20 years of outdoor gardening, I found the leafcutter bee feasting merrily on our Rudbeckia leaves (bloom time has not hit us yet in Wickliffe, OH). It was able to make fairly perfect circles in a number of leaves - and in quick order. I'm not happy to see these for my plants' health and certainly hope they don't sting humans.
j
janiemae1
Crane, TX |
March 2009 |
Negative
Not sure if this is the kind of leaf cutter bee we have , but it does do alot of damage to trees, shrubs, etc. I have not found anything to get rid of these guys. If anyone comes up with some way to kill, or repel, please pass it on. I hate these little guys!