Sculptured Resin Bee Megachile sculpturalis

Named for its sculptured, distinctly carved appearance, this hefty bee is a leafcutter extraordinaire—it methodically harvests leaf sections using its powerful mandibles and uses them to construct neat cylindrical brood cells inside tree cavities and building holes. Also called the giant resin bee for good reason, it reinforces its leafy structures with sticky plant resins to create waterproof, insect-proof nurseries for its developing larvae. Originally from Asia, this resourceful and adaptable bee has been steadily expanding its range across North America, surprising gardeners and researchers alike with its steady westward march.