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Species Megachile mendica - Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee

Representative Images

Leaf-cutting Bee (Megachile mendica) - Megachile mendica - female Megachile ? - Megachile mendica Leafcutter Bee mendica ? - Megachile mendica - male Mason Bee? - Megachile mendica Leafcutter Bee - Megachile centuncularis? - Megachile mendica - female Megachilidae - Coelioxys? - Megachile mendica Unknown bee - Megachile mendica Megachilidae? - Megachile mendica

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
No Taxon (Apoidea (clade Anthophila) - Bees)
Family Megachilidae (Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies)
Subfamily Megachilinae (Leafcutter, Resin, Mortar, Sharptail, Mason, and Woolcarder bees and relatives)
Tribe Megachilini (Leafcutter, Resin, Mortar, and Sharptail bees)
Genus Megachile (Leafcutter and Resin Bees)
No Taxon (Subgenus Litomegachile)
Species mendica (Flat-tailed Leaf-cutter Bee)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Megachile mendica Cresson 1878

Explanation of Names

Specific epithet mendica is Latin, meaning poor, or "a beggar" (1). Common name refers to flat profile of female T6.

Range

Widely distributed in the United States, occurring from coast to coast, and from Maine to Florida in the East.

Season

It is in flight throughout the season.

Food

The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.

Life Cycle

Print References

Borror, entry for root mendic (1)

Internet References

Works Cited

1.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.