Patchwork Leafcutter Bee vs Franklin's Bumble Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Patchwork Leafcutter Bee Franklin's Bumble Bee
Scientific Name Megachile centuncularis Bombus franklini
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Megachilidae Apidae
Size 7-12 mm 14-18 mm
Habitat Gardens Mountains
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe Western United States
Conservation Least Concern Critically Endangered

Patchwork Leafcutter Bee

A solitary bee that neatly cuts oval pieces from rose and other leaves to line its nest cells. The characteristic semicircular cuts it leaves on leaves are a familiar garden sight.

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Did You Know?

Each nest cell requires around 15 precisely cut leaf pieces to construct.

Franklin's Bumble Bee

The world's most range-restricted bumble bee, found only in a small area between southern Oregon and northern California. It has not been reliably seen since 2006 and may be extinct.

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Did You Know?

Its entire known range spans only about 190 miles north to south, making it the most geographically restricted bumble bee on Earth.