Species Account for Megachile leachella

Species text
The Silvery Leaf-cutter Bee Megachile leachella (=dorsalis) is principally restricted to coastal sites in southern England as well as a coastal site in South Wales. Only two modern inland sites are known. In Essex it is widely distributed along the East Thames Corridor, although some sites have already been lost and others are highly threatened. It is a local species, which is not infrequent on some stretches of the south coast. The bee is closely associated with the wind-blown sands of coastal dunes, where it normally frequents the mid dunes and requires warm, sunny, areas such as south-facing slopes and sheltered slacks for nesting. Its inland sites are dry, sandy, heathland and sand quarries, where it probably requires rather loose sand, possibly that associated with fairly regular disturbance. Nesting occurs in dry, sandy soils in areas fully exposed to the sun. Aggregated nesting has been noted abroad, but this has not been observed in Britain, even at its strongholds. Nesting typically occurs at the base of grass tussocks. Cells are constructed from leaf sections of various plants and even the yellow petals of Lotus corniculatus. References

Habitats

Recorded management for locations with Megachile leachella

Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Megachile leachella

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