A medium-sized Leafcutter which is similar to several other Megchilidae in ireland, especially Megachile centuncularis. The best way to tell it apart is to look closely at the hairs under the abdomen as well as the hairs at the tip of the abdomen. The underside hairs are a rich orange which usually extend to the tip but do not form a ‘halo’ when viewed from above. The hairs on the final tergite at the end of the abdomen are also rather small and lie flat, rather than the upright hairs on that of M. centuncularis. It also has weak abdominal bands and Irish individuals in particular have darkish hairs on the top of the thorax and paler grey or buff hairs on the sides. Compared to M. willughbiella, it has short adpressed hairs on the final tergite, rather than long hairs. This is the most common leafcutter in Ireland.

Distribution in Ireland: Widespread throughout the entire island.

Flight Period: Late May-early September.

Habitat: A wide variety of habitats, including gardens, parks, heathland, woodland clearings, scrub, field margins and brownfield sites.

Flowers visited: Thistles, knapweeds and hawkweeds are favoured, but also Bramble, Ragwort, Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil and others.

Personal Records: I have recorded this species at several sites: including Armagh City, Peatlands Park and Seagahan Dam (Co. Armagh), Bloody Bridge, Hillsborough, Killard Point and Clonachullion Wood (all Co. Down), Meeting of the Waters (Co. Wicklow), Top Rath (Co. Louth) and Bonny Glen (Co. Donegal). Nesting has been observed in several settings and always singly, such as old breeze-blocks and fallen deadwood. It is a host species of the Sharp-tailed Bees Coelioxys inermis and possibly C. elongata.