Leafcutter Bees 101

What is a leafcutter bee?

Leafcutter bees are gentle, docile, rarely sting and are amazing pollinators! They are also solitary bees that cut precise semi-circular or oval shapes from leaves of certain plants to use as nest cells. They are native to North America and can be found in gardens and parks in the summer months.

Image provided by: https://www.lfwseq.org.au/

Leafcutter bees are important pollinators for many species of plants, including garden vegetables, fruit trees, and wildflowers.

They do not produce honey or wax like honeybees, but they are a valuable part of any garden ecosystem.

To attract leafcutter bees to your garden, you can provide them with a variety of nesting materials such as hollow stems or bee houses.

Planting native plants that flower throughout the season is also essential for providing food sources for these hardworking pollinators.

The Leafcutter Bee Life Cycle

Understanding the life cycle of Leafcutter bees is key to appreciating their role in our ecosystem. These bees begin their lives as eggs, carefully provisioned with pollen in individual leaf-lined cells.

The egg hatches into a larva, which feeds on the stored pollen, grows, and eventually pupates. The pupa then develops into an adult, hibernates over winter, and emerges in the warmer months to begin the cycle anew.

Though the exact timing can vary between species, many Leafcutter bees emerge during the summer months when temperatures are consistently warm.

Once they've emerged, they mate and commence the task of nest building and provisioning cells with pollen and nectar.

Over several weeks, the female bee lays her eggs in the prepared cells, creating what could be considered the next generation of these industrious pollinators.

Leafcutters can easily be kept in the same native bee house that you already have! They're handled similar to spring mason bees, with a slightly different timeline. 

The Leafcutter Bee's Pollination Prowess

Leafcutter bees are excellent pollinators, often more efficient than honeybees! As they forage for pollen and nectar, pollen grains adhere to their hairy abdomens.

As the bees move from flower to flower, some of these pollen grains are brushed off, resulting in cross-pollination. This behavior not only benefits the plants, leading to increased yields, but also contributes to biodiversity and the overall health of our ecosystem.

Gardeners will be delighted to know that these bees pollinate a wide range of plants, including many fruits and vegetables.

They're especially important for pollinating crops like alfalfa, blueberries, carrots, and onions.

However, it's important to note that the plants they pollinate aren't necessarily the ones they harvest leaves from for their nest-building.

A timeline for attracting leafcutter bees

Summer

• Location/height of your bee hut stays the same as the spring mason bees 
• Summer blooming flowers AND leaves for their nests (hosta, dahlia, beans, strawberries, peas, roses, etc...work great!) 
• A fresh water source and chemical free garden
• Summer bee reeds (leafcutters like their reeds a touch smaller than mason bees).
• We sell natural phragmite reeds that are grown here in the USA! You can purchase your summer leafcutter bee reeds here.

Fall/Winter

• In April /May carefully open the filled reeds, just like the spring mason bees 
• Gently remove the cocoons and break apart large sections of connected cells 
• Discard any unhealthy cocoons to prevent parasites and fungal infections 
• Store healthy cocoons in a fine mesh bag 

Following Summer

• Place cocoons outdoors once the temp reaches a pretty consistent daytime temp of 
• 75° (Follow the 'Releasing Solitary Bees' for tips). 
• Be sure to change the reeds in your bee hut to the summer bee reeds 
• Males will emerge first and are smaller than the female leafcutter bees 

TIP: Place ⅓ of leafcutter cocoons out at a time, 2 weeks apart

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Leafcutter Bees

Are Leafcutter Bees Harmful to Plants?

While Leafcutter bees do cut pieces from leaves for their nests, they rarely cause significant damage. In fact, the minor leaf damage they cause is far outweighed by their contribution as pollinators.

Do Leafcutter Bees Sting?

Female Leafcutter bees do have a stinger, and while they can sting when provoked, their sting is considered less painful than that of a honeybee. In general, they are gentle and non-aggressive creatures.

Do Leafcutter Bees Produce Honey?

No, Leafcutter bees do not produce honey. They are valued for their role as efficient pollinators.

Conclusion

Leafcutter bees are a fascinating and important part of our ecosystem. These industrious creatures, with their unique nesting habits and excellent pollination abilities, play a crucial role in supporting plant biodiversity.

By providing a bee house in our gardens, we can help support these beneficial insects while also reaping the rewards of their pollination services.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting, providing a home for Leafcutter bees is a rewarding activity that contributes positively to the environment.

Not only will you encourage a healthy bee population, but you'll also boost the productivity of your garden. So why not give these incredible creatures a helping hand?

Take a step towards creating a bee-friendly space today. You'll be rewarded with a garden buzzing with life and brimming with fruits and flowers!

As always, if you have any questions, please reachout here!