Bug FAQMegachile policaris
Megachile policaris · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Megachilidae
Source: Wikipedia
The bee is black and its back plate (metanotum) stands almost at right angles to the rear of the propodeum, and it shows four visible belly segments plus four hidden ones. Females build nests in soil, plant stems, twigs, or by tunneling into rotting wood, and they collect pollen and nectar to make a mixed “bee loaf” for their larvae. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1831 and belongs to the bee family Megachilidae.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It is black and its dorsal metathorax is nearly perpendicular to the rear of the propodeum. It has four visible ventral segments and four additional hidden ones.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
It can sting, but the sting is weak and only for defence.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It nests in soil, plant stems, twigs, or by tunneling through rotting wood.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Females gather pollen and nectar to create a bee loaf that feeds the developing larvae. The species pollinates wild plants and crops.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
After the bee loaf is large enough, a female lays an egg on it and builds a small cavity around it. When the egg hatches, the larva eats the loaf, then later chews out of the nest in spring.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 23 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, California, Hawaii.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Can Megachile policaris sting people?
Yes, it can deliver a weak sting when handled.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this bee build its nest?
It nests in soil, plant stems, twigs, or by tunneling into rotting wood.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the bee feed its larvae?
The female mixes pollen and nectar into a bee loaf that the larvae eat.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Megachilidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megachile_policaris
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.