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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees » Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies (Megachilidae) » Leafcutter, Resin, Mortar, Sharptail, Mason, and Woolcarder bees and relatives (Megachilinae) » Leafcutter, Resin, Mortar, and Sharptail bees (Megachilini) » Leafcutter and Resin Bees (Megachile) » Subgenus Litomegachile (Megachile Subgenus Litomegachile) » Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile mendica)
Photo#617927
Bee with curved abdomen - Megachile mendica
Copyright © 2012 Sara Tangren

Bee with curved abdomen - Megachile mendica
Worcester County, Maryland, USA
June 2, 2011
Pollinating Tephrosia virginiana, goat's rue. From what I read online, goat's rue is toxic due to high concentrations of rotenone. The bee had a very distinctive way of holding its abdomen.

Images of this individual: tag all
Bee with curved abdomen - Megachile mendica Bee with curved abdomen - Megachile mendica Bee with curved abdomen - Megachile mendica - female
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Contributed by Sara Tangren on 3 March, 2012 - 10:27pm
Last updated 1 March, 2014 - 12:05am

Moved
Moved from Leaf-cutter and Resin Bees.
… John S. Ascher, 1 March, 2014 - 12:05am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John S. Ascher, 4 March, 2012 - 1:57pm login or register to post comments

Holding pollen
The bee appears to be storing pollen on its belly (typical of Megachilidae) and may be trying to avoid rubbing the pollen off.
… John F. Carr, 4 March, 2012 - 6:59am login or register to post comments

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