Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Harmful Effects
Icon about
Beneficial Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee

Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee

Megachile pugnata

A species of Leafcutter bees, Also known as Pugnacious Leafcutter

Megachile pugnata is a species of North American bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Say in 1837. Females are 12-18 mm in length while male are somewhat smaller: 11-13 mm. The adults are active from June to September. Females of this species are oligolectic on the pollen of plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, and commonly visit ironweeds (e.g. Vernonia fasciculata) for nectar.

Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Humans
Does the Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee sting humans?
Human Stinging
General Info About Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Colors
Brown
Black
Yellow
Habitat
field
Adult Food Sources
Nectar, pollen
Larva Food Source
Pollen, nectar
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Not reported
Mouthparts Type
Chewing-lapping mouthparts
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Life Cycle of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Egg The embryo develops inside the egg, a small, often oval object. The egg is typically laid in a secure location with abundant food sources, and its color and size vary per species.
Larva Upon hatching, the larva is usually worm-like, lacking true legs and eyes. It's focused on feeding and growth, undergoing molting several times and increasing substantially in size.
Pupal The transition to adulthood occurs in the pupal case, where the pugnacious leaf-cutter bee undergoes significant transformation. During this resting phase, larval structures break down, and adult features form.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult pugnacious leaf-cutter bee’s development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.
Rectangle
Predators of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee Larvae
Birds, rodents, wasps, spiders
Rectangle
Predators of Adult Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Birds, rodents, spiders, praying mantises, dragonflies
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
The pugnacious leaf-cutter bee is an adept pollinator, utilizing its belly to collect pollen, distinguishing it from most bees that use their legs for this essential practice.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Tips for Finding Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
How Can You Attract Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Adult pugnacious leaf-cutter bee can be attracted using small amounts of sweet substances like sugar or honey diluted in water, which mimic the natural nectars they feed on.
Rectangle
Habitat Preferences of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee Through Different Life Stages
To find the different growth stages of pugnacious leaf-cutter bee, you would begin with flowers or flowering plants where female pugnacious leaf-cutter bee forage for pollen and nectar, necessary for the feeding of their offspring. These areas are where you can expect to find adults. For the larval stages, seek out soft, rotting wood or in constructed nests of plant fibers, often in cavities. Mature larvae and pupae are usually hidden within the nest cells meticulously crafted by adults. A diligent search for such nests might involve inspecting holes in wood, hollow stems, or even abandoned burrows of other insects. They are often concealed, requiring close observation, and sometimes dissection of potential nesting sites, to reveal the presence of the developing stages of pugnacious leaf-cutter bee.
Rectangle
When is the Best Time to Observe Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
The best time to find adult pugnacious leaf-cutter bee is during warm, sunny days, especially mid-morning to late afternoon when they are most active and out foraging for nectar and pollen.
Rectangle
What is the Best Weather to Observe Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Dry, warm weather with little wind is most suitable for finding adult pugnacious leaf-cutter bee, as they are less active during cold, windy, or rainy conditions.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee at Different Life Stages
Larva Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee larvae can be found inside their brood cells, which are constructed out of leaves or petals and located in cavities like hollow stems or holes in wood. To locate them, search for nests in such cavities or consider placing out nesting materials like tubes or pre-made nesting blocks suitable for this family of bees.
Pupal Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee pupae will be inside the brood cells which are usually sealed, making it difficult to find them directly without disturbing the nest. To observe the pupae, one must carefully open the cells, which is best done for scientific purposes under controlled conditions to avoid harm.
Adult Adult pugnacious leaf-cutter bee can be found foraging on flowers, especially those with a tubular shape that accommodates their body size and tongue length. They can also be attracted by setting up a bee garden with native flowering plants known to attract pollinators in the family Megachilidae, providing a readily available food source.
Are Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle

Are Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee harmful to humans?

In general, pugnacious leaf-cutter bee are not harmful to people, they are only interested in pollen and leaves. However, the pugnacious leaf-cutter bee like other bees, has a tail pin that can be used from the guard. In addition, pugnacious leaf-cutter bee has a developed and powerful jaw. So please don't mess with them, otherwise the pugnacious leaf-cutter bee may bite and sting you.
Harmful Effects of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Reveal the harmful impacts of diverse insects
Explore the dangers of insects related to toxicity, lethality, human biting, human stinging, pathogenicity, hematophagy, allergenicity, parasitism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Icon toxic for
Toxic to Humans
Icon toxic for
Human Stinging
Rectangle
Toxic to Humans

Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee, a solitary bee, possesses a mild sting used as a defense mechanism. The sting contains a venom that may result in localized pain and swelling in humans, but it is not generally dangerous unless a person is specifically allergic. There is no evidence of long-term health impact from the sting of pugnacious leaf-cutter bee, making its toxic potential minimal to non-allergenic individuals.

Rectangle
Does the Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee sting humans?

Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee do not typically sting humans; female pugnacious leaf-cutter bee can sting but usually do so only when provoked, such as being handled or threatened. Males are unable to sting. A sting from pugnacious leaf-cutter bee can cause localized pain and swelling but is not usually dangerous unless an allergic reaction occurs. Stinging has no adverse effects on pugnacious leaf-cutter bee themselves.

More Effects of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee

Beneficial Effects of Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Discover the hidden benefits of insects
Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
Download the App for Free
Pollinator
Pollinator
Attract Plant Feature
Color, Shape
Pollination Behavior Reason
Collect Pollen To Feed Offspring
Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee is a diligent pollinator, often seen buzzing from flower to flower. It is particularly fond of Asteraceae blooms, attracted by their vibrant colors and distinct shapes. This bee collects pollen to provision its nests, ensuring a food source for its larvae. During this process, pugnacious leaf-cutter bee inadvertently transfers pollen, facilitating plant reproduction.
Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
More Insects that are Similar to Pugnacious leaf-cutter bee
Blue mason bee
Blue mason bee

Females Osmia caerulescens are 10–11 mm in length, they are dark blue-black bees with a metallic sheen, which are sparsely covered with brown hairs with those on the abdomen forming a narrow, dense, flattened band on the hind margin of each of the segments. The dense brush of pollen collecting scopae on the underside of the abdomen is jet black. The males are slightly smaller, 9mm, more slender in build, distinctly metallic green and clothed with pale hairs.

Read More
Arrow
Red mason bee
Red mason bee

The red mason bee (Osmia rufa) has a bit of a misleading name, as it doesn't tend to build like a mason. Instead, they like to reuse other bee's nests, which can be considered lazy or environmentally conscious depending on your perspective. They are also not aggressive, meaning they won't sting unless they are roughly handled.

Read More
Arrow
Bufflehead mason bee
Bufflehead mason bee

Osmia bucephala, the bufflehead mason bee, is a species of hymenopteran in the family Megachilidae. It is found in North America.

Read More
Arrow
Blueberry bee
Blueberry bee

Osmia ribifloris, one of several species referred to as a blueberry bee, is a megachilid bee native to western North America, including Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico. This solitary bee normally gathers pollen from plants in the family Ericaceae, with manzanita, Arctostaphylos sp. being a preferred host in the wild. It will pollinate blueberries, and is sometimes used commercially for this purpose.

Read More
Arrow
Orange-vented mason bee
Orange-vented mason bee

Distinguished by its preference for utilizing dead plant material to construct its brood cells, orange-vented mason bee demonstrates a peculiar nesting behavior uncommon among related species. While adults are known for their diligent collection of nectar and pollen, which they carry in specialized structures on their abdomen, the larvae exhibit a voracious appetite for these provisions, undergoing a complete metamorphosis before emerging to continue the cycle of pollination.

Read More
Arrow
Gold-fringed mason bee
Gold-fringed mason bee

Osmia aurulenta is a Palearctic species of mason bee.

Read More
Arrow
Montana mason bee
Montana mason bee

Osmia montana is a species of hymenopteran in the family Megachilidae. It is found in North America.

Read More
Arrow
Blue orchard bee
Blue orchard bee

Osmia lignaria, commonly known as the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee, is a megachilid bee that makes nests in reeds and natural holes, creating individual cells for its brood that are separated by mud dividers. Unlike carpenter bees, it cannot drill holes in wood. O. lignaria is a common species used for early spring fruit bloom in Canada and the United States, though a number of other Osmia species are cultured for use in pollination.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow