Native Bees — Batavia Coast and Midwest WAAustrothurgus  Euhesma Exoneura Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus Hylaeus mysterium puella Leioproctus Megachile aurifrons Megachile (Thaumatosoma) duboulaii Megachile semiluctuosa Meroglossa rubricata Thyreus waroonensis Trichocolletes

The Megachile aurifrons is a largish native bee, the female are about 6-8 mm in length, the male being slightly smaller in length.

It is the female Megachile aurifrons bee that has the distinctive red eyes.

Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

The male of the species have a more milky colour with red tint to the eyes.

Megachile aurifrons © Gary Taylor
Male Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

Both male and female of the species have the “golden brow” on their faces, hence their common name of the ‘Golden-browed Resin Bee’, although there are some exceptions in that the male bee pictured above does not have the “golden brow”.

Megachile aurifrons © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

Belonging to the “resin bees” group of bees, the ‘resin’ part of the name alludes to the resin they make to cap their nesting holes.

Megachile aurifrons © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Megachile aurifrons, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

More information on this bee: Insects > Bees | Megachile aurifrons.

Also checkout some of Gary’s blogs:

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Informal: Apiformes
  • Family: Megachilidae
  • Subfamily: Megachilinae
  • Tribe: Megachilini
  • Genus: Megachile
  • Species: Megachile aurifrons

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs Megachile aurifrons, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

Native Bees — Batavia Coast and Midwest WAAustrothurgus  Euhesma Exoneura Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus Hylaeus mysterium puella Leioproctus Megachile aurifrons Megachile (Thaumatosoma) duboulaii Megachile semiluctuosa Meroglossa rubricata Thyreus waroonensis Trichocolletes

Insects — Batavia Coast and Midwest WANative Bees Wasps

The Batavia Coast and Midwest WAFauna

Western AustraliaThe Batavia Coast and Midwest WA Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park Great Southern WA Stirling Range National Park