What is chewing out perfect circles on the leaves of my plants?
This is the work of the Leafcutter Bee (Megachile sidalceae). Leafcutter bees are solitary, small bees with black or gray bodies with white hair forming bands on the abdomen. Females cut out plant material from roses, ash, redbud, and other plants with smooth leaves. She uses the materials to construct cells and gathers pollen and nectar to make bee bread for the cell. She then lays eggs on the bee bread and closes the cell. Although unsightly, the damage leafcutter bees do to plants is cosmetic and will not kill the plant. No control is necessary. Bees are very important pollinators. Insects and animals pollinate over 70 percent of crops that we rely on for food, fibers, and medicines and 90 percent of landscape flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. Bees foraging for nectar and pollen in the garden are harmless and will not sting unless provoked to do so. Back to Top Question: There are hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of insects that are long and black with grey spots that
