Leaf cutter bee: Megachile anthracina

Symptoms of damage

• Leaf cutter bees cause characteristic damage to the rose leaves
• Cutting neat circular or oval patches from the leaf margins.
• Cut bits of leaves - used for the construction nest cells.

Identification of the pest

• Adult - hairy, medium sized dark insects
• base of the abdomen tinged with red- brown colour.
• They build cells in crevices and cavities in hedges, dead wood etc.

Management

• Insecticides are ineffective for preventing leaf cutting.
• Cover susceptible plants with cheesecloth or loose netting for preventing leaf injury damage
• Breeding sites should be eliminated
• Application of saw dust on the tunnel or thick stemed plants with hollowed opening
• Number of leafcutter bees in an area can be reduced if breeding sites are eliminated.
• Rotting wooden boards with sawdust pushed out of excavated tunnels
• To prevent leafcutter bees from tunneling into rose canes, seal exposed pith as canes are pruned.