Megachile rhyssalus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Megachilidae
Genus:	Megachile
Species:	M. rhyssalus
Binomial name
Megachile rhyssalus Wu, 2005

Megachile rhyssalus is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae.^[1] It was described by Yan-Ru Wu in 2005.^[1]It is commonly known as the resin bee or the leaf-cutter bee. These bees are found in various parts of North America, including the United States and Canada. Resin bees are medium-sized bees, usually measuring around 10-15 millimeters in length. They have a robust, black body with pale bands on their abdomen. The females have specialized structures on their undersides called scopae, which they use to collect pollen and carry it back to their nests. One distinguishing behavior of Megachile rhyssalus is its leaf-cutting habit. The female bees use their strong jaws to cut circular or oval-shaped pieces from leaves, which they then use to construct their nests. These nests are typically built in preexisting cavities, such as hollow plant stems or wood structures.

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