Megachile hecate
| Megachile hecate | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Megachilidae |
| Genus: | Megachile |
| Species: | M. hecate |
| Binomial name | |
| Megachile hecate Vachal, 1903 | |
Megachile hecate is a species of leafcutter bee in the family Megachilidae.[1] It was first described by French entomologist Joseph Vachal in 1903.[2]
Distribution
Megachile hecate is an Afrotropical species. It is natively distributed across East Africa, with documented populations in Tanzania.[3]
Behavior and ecology
As a member of the genus Megachile, M. hecate is a solitary, non-aggressive bee. While specifics regarding its nesting habits remain poorly documented, species within this genus typically construct nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow plant stems, wood borings, or burrows in the soil. Females cut neat, oval or circular discs from leaves or flower petals to line and seal individual brood cells, providing insulation and protection against desiccation for the developing larvae.[4]
References
- ↑ "Megachile hecate Vachal, 1903". BioLib. 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Megachile - WaspWeb". WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the Afrotropical Region. Iziko Museums of South Africa. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Megachile hecate (Vachal, 1903)". BeeDIP: Bee Diversity Informatics Portal. Makerere University. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Michener, Charles D. (2007). The Bees of the World (2nd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 551–555. ISBN 978-0-8018-8573-0.