
1. DISTRIBUTION
M. leachella [Soortenregister] is a rare species that can be found mainly at the coast and in the most souther part of the Netherlands [Waarneming.nl].
2. BEHAVIOUR
2.1. ACTIVITY
The species is active from May to August [Waarneming.nl],[Peeters et al. 2012].
2.2. DEVELOPMENT
The female nests in existing cavities, like hollow stems or old bore holes in wood, or she digs a nest herself in sand ground with little growth, like a vertical wall. She covers the nest walls with cut leaves and fills the nest up with sand [Peeters et al. 2012].
2.3. POLLENSOURCES
M. leachella is polylectic and uses the following plants as pollen source [Wildebijen.nl],[Peeters et al. 2012]:
Legume (Leguminosae) | – Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) – Common restharrow (Ononis repens) – Spiny restharrow (Ononis spinosa) – Lucerne (Medicago sativa) |
Resedaceae | – Wild mignonette (Reseda lutea) |
Except for Spiny restharrow all these plants can be found in the garden.
3. PARASITIC RELATIONS
Sharp tailed bees (COELIOXYS) are primary parasites of M. leachella [Wildebijen.nl],[Peeters et al. 2012], they are cleptoparasites.
The following parasites cited in literature can be found in the Netherlands:
Bees (COELIOXYS) | – C. afra [Wildebijen.nl],[Peeters et al. 2012] – C. elongata [Wildebijen.nl],[Peeters et al. 2012] – C. inermis [Wildebijen.nl],[Peeters et al. 2012] – C. mandibularis [Wildebijen.nl],[Peeters et al. 2012] – C. rufescens [Peeters et al. 2012] |
Wasps (CHALICIDOIDEA) | – Monodontomerus obsoletus [Peeters et al. 2012] – Melittobia acasta [Peeters et al. 2012] |
I’ve observed Shapr tailed bees twice in the garden, but the species are not clear. In one of the observations it was either a female C. elongata or C. inermis.
4. IDENTIFICATION
The females and males of M. pilidens are difficult M. leachella. For an extensive description of the differences see [Peeters et al. 2006].
♀

1. White scopa [Wildebijen.nl]
2. Tergite 6 with two felt-like white hair spots [Wildebijen.nl]
3. Tergite 3 coarser puntated [Peeters et al. 2012]
– only difference with M. pilidens which has finer punctation [Peeters et al. 2006]
4. Space between punctation more glossy and about as large as punctation [Wildebijen.nl].
5. Clypeus very shallow cut out [Wildebijen.nl]
♂
1. Front tarsus darkbrown to black [Wildebijen.nl]
2. Front tarsus at most basally a little yellow-white, less heartshaped [Peeters et al. 2006]
– only difference with M. pilidens
3. Coxa frontleg with clear thorn [Wildebijen.nl]
4. Tergites with white hairbands [Wildebijen.nl]
5. Tergite 6 entirely or partly with white hairs [Wildebijen.nl]
6. Femur frontleg hindside yellow coloured until the end
7. Sternite 4 has a hair spot at the end
Literature
Peeters et al. 2006 Peeters, T. M. J., Raemakers, I. P., van de Nieuwegiessen, J., & Kuper, J. T., 2006. De rotsbehangersbij Megachile pilidens, nieuw voor de Nederlandse fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae). Nederlandse Faunistische Mededelingen, 25, 11-18.Peeters et al. 2012 Peeters, T.M.J., H. Nieuwenhuijsen, J. Smit, F. van der Meer, I.P. Raemakers, W.R.B. Heitmans, C. van Achterberg, M. Kwak, A.J. Loonstra, J. de Rond, M. Roos & M. Reemer, 2012. De Nederlands bijen (Hymennoptera: Apidae s.l.). - Natuur van Nederland 11, Naturalis Biodiversity Center & European Invertebrate Survey - Nederland, Leiden.
Soortenregister Nederlands Soortenregister
Waarneming.nl Waarneming.nl
Wildebijen.nl wildebijen.nl, "De Nederlandse bijen en hun relaties, overzicht van in Nederland en Vlaanderen voorkomende solitaire en sociale bijen (Apidea s.l.)"
Citation
Krischan, O.R., 2025. Megachile leachella. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on [date month year].