Megachile latimanus is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Say in 1823.
There are many parasites of leafcutting bees. Many species of flies, wasps (Mutillidae) and beetles (Rhipiphoridae, Meloidae, and Cleridae) parasitize the bees and their larvae, including Coelioxys bees that lay their eggs in the nests of M. latimanus to steal the food of the M. latimanus larvae. Certain ant species in the Crematogaster genus have also been known to attack leafcutter bee nests.
Known Predators:
Since this bee is a solitary insect little is known of their communication habits.
Leaf cutting bees, Megachile latimanus, live in the western parts of Canada and the United States, New Zealand, South America, and Europe. This species was accidentally introduced into North America during World War II through the movement of nests in crated war material. Once in North America, they developed large populations under favorable conditions.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Introduced ); palearctic (Introduced ); neotropical ; australian
This species prefers a dry, warm habitat with temperatures exceeding 69 degrees Farenheit. Although Megachile latmanus is most active under these conditions, this species needs a colder temperature in order to break diapause and complete metamorphosis.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
Leafcutting bees develop in the same way as other Hymenoptera, undergoing complete metamorphosis. First larvae hatch from an egg, then as the larvae grows it passes through several instars (stages of growth) each ending with a molt of the exoskeleton. Once the larvae has fully matured it enters the pupal stage where it does not eat or move, but transforms into its adult morphology.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Most leafcutting bees are moderate-sized, stout-bodied and dark colored. They average about 10 to 20 millimeters in length. Leafcutting bees, like other bees, are covered in tiny, branched body hairs that assist in collecting pollen. This particular species carries pollen on a brush of hair on the ventral side of the abdomen. Males have 13 antennal segments and 7 abdominal tergites, whereas the females have 12 antennal segments and 6 abdominal tergites. Like most other bee species, leafcutting bees have an elongated tongue for reaching the nectar of flowers.
Average length: 10 - 20 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic
Leafcutting bees reproduce sexually. This species mates on or around the nest. Usually during the morning, a male will seek out a female and attempt to mate by pulling at the tip of the female's abdomen. If the female is receptive, she will evert her stinger, allowing mating to take place.
A female will produce about one egg per day and an average of about 28 in a lifetime. As with all hymenoptera, the fertilized eggs will be female and unfertilized eggs will be male.
Average eggs per season: 28.
Key Reproductive Features: semelparous ; seasonal breeding ; sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous ; sperm-storing ; delayed fertilization
The females of this species provisions the nest with enough food for the larvae to eat throughout its developement. Megachile latimanus females lay their eggs on the larval food supply so as to guarantee the larvae will be able to grow. After the female lays her egg she seals the nest in order to protect the developing insect. Once the nest is plugged, there is no further parental involvement.
Parental Investment: pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female)
Leafcutting bees and their larvae feed on the nectar and pollen of legume flowers such as alfalfa and sweet clover. Their diet consists of about 64% nectar and 34% pollen. In order to obtain the nectar and pollen, a bee pries open the keel of a flower while inserting the proboscis (tongue) to suck the nectar. While sucking the nectar, a bee will collect pollen by rubbing against the stamen. To feed its larvae, a bee regurgitates the nectar and brushes off the pollen.
Plant Foods: nectar; pollen
Primary Diet: herbivore (Nectarivore )
This species of bees is important to the alfalfa industry in Canada and the United States. Leafcutter bees have been domesticated in these areas for farming purposes because of their alfalfa pollinating efficiency, ease of management, and usually rapid increase in populations. These bees adapt to a wide variety of climatic, nesting, and foraging conditions and maintain populations through the presence of predators, parasites, and insecticide poisoning.
Positive Impacts: pollinates crops