vi] LONG-POINTED-TONGUED BEES 79 



irregular piece is removed, comparing badly with the 

 neat work of the true leaf-cutters. 



There are eight British species of Megachile : they 

 are all decidedly hairy bees (about the same size as 



\, 



A 



Y 



/A 



f, \ ,< 1< 



If L \ l- 



f / r \\ \ \ 



Fig. 14. Portion of a rose-leaf which has been attacked by a 



leaf-cutter bee (Megachile) 



the honey-bee, but of stouter build), with large wide 

 heads and powerful flattened mandibles ; their labrum 

 (upper lip) is long and square-cut, and capable of 



