What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Leaf Cutting Bee Nest

Posted by June 4th, 2006 at 12:00 am

Categories

Solitary Bees

need help in ID’ing a bee
Sir, Today I was cleaning and working on on my RV when I saw a large bee, about the size of a bumble bee, dark green in color, carrying a leaf, fly into the tailpipe of my generator’s muffler. I waited for it to come out, but after a few minutes, it did not come out. Not wanted a clogged up muffler on my generator, I tapped on it with a hammer, still no bee. I got some wasp spray and shot a stream into the tailpipe. Nothing came out. So I decided to start the generator and see if I could blow him/her our. When I started the generator, 3 leafy, cigar shaped things flew out of the tailpipe. The are about finger width in diameter and about 3 or 3 1/2 inches long. They seem to be full of some type of yellow liquid. Attached are two photos of the cocoons or egg cases. Would really like to know what they are.
Thanks,
Larry
PS, I live in south Texas.

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Hi Larry,
We wish you had a photo of the Leaf Cutting Bee in the family Megachilidae. The female provisions her nest with nectar and pollen and creates a series of individual cells using circular leaf fragments.

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