Digger bee Megachile perihirta

doh... everything diagnostic is probably not in this photo... I think I got the details that might be telling, but all in other photos that are mostly blurry :p

comments (6)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

I can only offer words of encouragement. What you're doing, documented the often overlooked diversity of flies and wasps, is really wonderful and important. Like an unexplored category. At the same time, even taxonomist finds them one of the most difficult groups.

In cases where an ID isn't fully possible, the photos themselves are stunning on their own. Do keep it up. I'm addicted now. Posted 4 years ago
1. morpheme
  
  Lion
  
  BugGuide doesn't care about blurry photos... as long as they can make out what they need too, so I posted a series over there with the hopes that I can get some clues... A lot of these guys seem to be not well documented at all though. I've come across a few genera now that indicate a fair number of species in the description, but only have a few photos or have lots of photos, but with nearly none able to be classified to the species level. Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    What about your book? I am probably assigning too much importance to it, hehe. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. morpheme
      
      Lion
      
      The book has definitely been useful, more in some categories than others. For butterflies and moths it has really detailed distribution info for many species, which is super helpful. He's got really good descriptions of the key differences in similar species too, so when/if it comes down to just a couple of choices it has helped there too. For other things that might have 100's and 100's of species, it just isn't able to cover more than the most commonly seen ones. It still helps to narrow down where to start looking, but when there's 700 species, like with houseflies, a book just can't handle it..
      
      I've been working on going back through old photos... between the new book, the lep web site you gave me a link to and just knowing a bit more about where to look now, I have been able to ID about a half a dozen of my older pics :) Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        That makes sense. I think it was Christine that recently shared this book link:
        https://www.amazon.com/Flies-Natural-History-Diversity-Diptera/dp/1770851003#customerReviews
        
        Or was it you? Sorry, my memory is so poor. Posted 4 years ago
      2. morpheme
        
        Lion
        
        It wasn't me - I believe Christine is an entomologist :) - she'd know about the best resources. Posted 4 years ago

The Megachile perihirta

''Megachile perihirta'', commonly known as the Western leafcutting bee, is a bee in the genus ''Megachile''. The bee is native to western North America, ranging from Nebraska to Texas and Mexico, west to California, and north to British Columbia and Alberta, and often inhabits meadows and orchards. The bee is black with long whitish-yellow hair, more so below the thorax and abdomen. The abdomen, however, is mostly bare, although each segment has scattered whitish hair. The wings of the Western leafcutting.. more

Info 2 0

Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants

Species identified by morpheme

By morpheme

Uploaded Aug 26, 2021. Captured Aug 24, 2021 16:49 in Unnamed Road, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.

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X-E2
f/10.0
1/250s
ISO400
80mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.