Scientific name: Megachile sp.
Distribution
All states and territories of Australia.
Identification
7 mm long, small bees. There are over 80 species in Australia. They have a glossy black head and thorax. Their abdomen is wedge-shaped when viewed on the side and is either black or red-orange in colour. Some species also have a light T-shaped marking on their face.
Behaviour
Nests inside hollowed-out dry stems of several plants (e.g. Lantana sp.). Females guard the entrance of the nest, by using their faces or abdomen to block the entrance.
Importance
Pollinators of native plants.