Leafcutter bees are among the hardest-working pollinators in North America. These active bees are essential for pollination and sustainable growth and are a great addition to your garden or farm environment!
At Kind Bee Farms, we are passionate about educating the world on the power of leafcutter bees and their role in growing lavish and plentiful crops. Below, we will examine five interesting facts about these busy workers to give you more insight into their role as pollinators.
What Are Leafcutter Bees?
Leafcutter bees are a solitary bee species known in the agricultural world as “super pollinators.” Unlike other bee varieties, which live in a hive and work together, leafcutters live and work alone in little nesting tubes. These tubes are just big enough for them to sleep and for the females to lay eggs.
As they go off to work in gardens and farms, leafcutter bees use the fuzzy brush on their bellies to spread pollen over plants, flowers, and other flora. Due to their nimble bodies and quick speed, leafcutter bees can visit more plants and flowers in a day than honey bees. In fact, the industrious work of one leafcutter bee is equivalent to twenty honey bees!
Leafcutter bees may not be as well known as other bee species, but they are pretty special! If you are hankering to learn more about these busy bees, below are five fun and interesting facts about them.
Leafcutter Bees Are Very Small
Most leafcutter bees are between 4 and 10 mm long, roughly the size of a green pea, with females growing larger than males. By contrast, mason bees can be up to 20 mm long. Despite their tiny stature, leafcutter bees are still pollinating at incredible rates! In fact, their small bodies equip them to fly faster, allowing them to pollinate at a quicker pace than larger bees.
They Are Known for Being Gentle
Without the need to defend a hive, leafcutter bees are gentle and friendly, making them easy to befriend (after all, there is a reason why we call them “kind bees!”). While female leafcutters do have stingers, they almost never use them unless they are in danger. As long as you are not putting them in harm’s way, you can work with leafcutter bees side by side.
Leafcutter Bees Thrive in the Heat!
Leafcutter bees are at their best in warmer temperatures. Their preference for heat makes them excellent for greenhouses, as unlike many other pollinators, the higher temperature does not slow them down. Leafcutter bees are most productive during the warmer part of summer when flowers and plants are already beginning to bloom.
Leafcutters Love Flowers
Leafcutter bees pollinate several plant varieties, from berries to alfalfa, but they love flowers, from low-growing pansies to bushes full of roses! The more flowers you plant, the more leafcutter bees will come to work in your garden.
They Enjoy Bright Colours
Not only do leafcutter bees love flowers, but they also love their bright, cheerful colours! Leafcutter bees have colour receptors for blue, green, and ultraviolet. If you plant flowers and plants with these hues, you will have leafcutter bees pollinating your garden in no time.
Order Leafcutter Bees from Kind Bee Farms
At Kind Bee Farms, we hope to fill gardens all across Canada with the cheerful buzz of leafcutter bees! If you want to help increase the bee population and see your plants thrive, these super pollinators are the perfect gardening companions. Discover how you can help promote sustainability and boost your plant life by viewing our products or contacting us today.