Megachile rotundata
The leaf cutter bee ![🐝](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t1f/1/16/1f41d.png)
![✂️](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb0/1/16/2702.png)
![🍃](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta/1/16/1f343.png)
![🐝](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t1f/1/16/1f41d.png)
![✂️](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb0/1/16/2702.png)
![🍃](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta/1/16/1f343.png)
Megachile rotundata is a solitary bee of the Megachilidae family, which includes bees called leafcutters and masons, because they build their nests in makeshift cavities: underground, in rock crevices, reeds, hollow stems and even shells
.
![🐚](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t9c/1/16/1f41a.png)
The female of Megachile rotundata uses her strong jaws to cut pieces of leaves ![✂️](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb0/1/16/2702.png)
and petals which she uses to build the cells in which she lays her eggs.
![✂️](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tb0/1/16/2702.png)
![🍃](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ta/1/16/1f343.png)
She is a skilled pollinator ![🐝](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t1f/1/16/1f41d.png)
of alfalfa, carrots, other vegetables and some fruits.
![🐝](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t1f/1/16/1f41d.png)
![🌸](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf0/1/16/1f338.png)
![⁉️](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tec/1/16/2049.png)
![😲](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tad/1/16/1f632.png)
Megachile rotundata has been introduced as a pollinator and bred in many parts of the world to help farmers
.
![🧑🌾](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tda/1/16/1f9d1_200d_1f33e.png)
Photo Graham Wise from Brisbane, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
![351354224_224703620344168_5537839980302592688_n](https://mizar.unive.it/lifepollinaction.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/351354224_224703620344168_5537839980302592688_n.jpg)