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

Insects — Batavia Coast and Midwest WANative Bees Wasps

The Batavia Coast and Midwest WAFauna

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