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Learn How Leafcutter Bees Make Their Nests


We found another gorgeous nesting cell made by a leafcutter bee today during our fall harvest. Leafcutter bees will construct their nests with tiny pieces of crescent shaped cut leaves or flower petals, which does not harm the plant. She will then chew it until it becomes pliable and then push it up along the walls of the cavity of her nesting chamber. She will then lay an egg and place a pollen loaf for her baby before gently wrapping up the leaf chamber and making a cozy little “sleeping bag” for her baby. This process can sometimes take her up to three hours to wrap each baby. Different than a mason bee, leafcutters do not weave a cocoon. They will over-winter in their “sleeping bag” in the larvae stage and once they feel 70+ degree temperatures, they will perk up, eat the pollen loaf and then take 4-8 weeks to grow into a full grown bee before they emerge in the summer to pollinate.

Learn more about Leafcutter Bees:

Inside a Mason & Leafcutter Block

Watch Leafcutter Bees in Slow Motion

Learn About Leafcutter Bees

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Galea says

    The Nature: My Garden of a Thousand Bees seen 10 20 21 repeats 10 22 21 at 2pmand 10 24 at 5am I highly recommend watching for any one interested in leaf cutter bees. Was very onlightening.
    Thank you with your assistance in placing my order.
    Carol Galea. Take care.

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Bee Amazed

Mason bees
visit up to
2,000
flowers a day
400 Mason bees
do the work of
40,000
honey bees
One Mason bee
block can hold
500
eggs
Farmers
release
1,000
bees per acre
to pollinate their
crops