Leafcutter bees take a nibble

At this time of year, it’s worth keeping an eye on summer greenery for the tell-tale signs of leafcutter bees. Females of this ingenious species bite out ovals from tasty leaves (rarely doing much damage to the plants), and use them to line the cells in their nests and feed their offspring through the winter. The UK has seven species of leafcutter bee, of which the honeybee-sized patchwork leafcutter is most common. As solitary bees, adults don’t live in social hives, so look for them instead nesting in natural tunnels such as dried-out plant stems, digging holes into rotten wood or dry soil, or making use of bug hotels. If you’re lucky, you may even spot them in flight carrying their bundles of freshly snipped foliage.…

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The Week Junior (Digital) - 1 Issue, 346

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