Photo: Dick Belgers / CC BY 3.0
Megachile ericetorum
Heather Leafcutter Bee
A medium-sized leafcutter bee (10–12 mm) with a black body, dense brownish hair on the thorax, white ventral scopa, and narrow white abdominal hair bands. It is oligolectic on Fabaceae (legumes), especially Lotus, Medicago, and Trifolium species. It nests in self-dug burrows in sandy or loamy soils, lining brood cells with chewed leaf pieces. In Switzerland it occurs in dry meadows, ruderal areas, and field margins in warm lowland regions. Swiss Red List: Least Concern (LC).
Species Facts
- Size
- 10–12 mm
- Flight Period
- June to August
- Nesting
- Ground
- Specialization
- Fabaceae (legumes)
- Abundance
- Uncommon
- Family
- Megachilidae
External Sources
This data has been cross-referenced with national sources:
Data Source & Copyright
| Category | Source / Author | License |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Dick Belgers | CC BY 3.0 |
| Taxonomy & Distribution | InfoFauna Switzerland | Public data |
| Global Distribution | GBIF | CC BY 4.0 |
Data Quality
High Quality Last audit: 2026-05-22
Completeness: 100%
✓Photo exists✓Traits consistent✓Description quality✓Red List referenced✓Attribution verified
Confidence: 67%
IdentifiabilityMediumImage confidenceMediumImage qualityHighTrait coherenceHigh
