broad-handed leafcutter (Megachile latimanus) male on swamp milkweed at Cardinal Marsh IA653A9690
I really like these little broad-handed leafcutter bees. Males are quite easy to identify with their gleaming green eyes and front legs that look like they're wearing long white socks. You can see the front leg on this bee right below his eye. Notice how wide the fringe of white hairs on his front leg is - hence the name broad-handed leafcutter. Female broad-handed leafcutter bees cut out small round circles in tree or shrub leaves to seal off their nesting tunnels underground with little leaf doors.
broad-handed leafcutter (Megachile latimanus) male on swamp milkweed at Cardinal Marsh IA653A9690
I really like these little broad-handed leafcutter bees. Males are quite easy to identify with their gleaming green eyes and front legs that look like they're wearing long white socks. You can see the front leg on this bee right below his eye. Notice how wide the fringe of white hairs on his front leg is - hence the name broad-handed leafcutter. Female broad-handed leafcutter bees cut out small round circles in tree or shrub leaves to seal off their nesting tunnels underground with little leaf doors.