Coastal Leaf-cutter Bee
Megachile maritima
Megachile maritima, common name coast leaf-cutter, is a species of leaf-cutter bees in the family Megachilidae. It was described by William Kirby in 1802.
35
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megachile_maritima
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Megachilidae
Genus
Megachile
Coastal Leaf-cutter Bee belongs to the family Megachilidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Megachile maritima, common name coast leaf-cutter, is a species of leaf-cutter bees in the family Megachilidae. It was described by William Kirby in 1802.
The Coastal Leaf-cutter Bee faces significant threats from coastal development and habitat loss as human activities increasingly encroach upon its specialized shoreline nesting sites. Climate change poses additional risks through sea level rise and increased storm intensity, which can destroy nesting areas and alter the availability of native flowering plants essential for foraging. The species' restricted coastal distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to these localized but intensive pressures.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Coastal dunes, sandy cliffs, and maritime grasslands along temperate shorelines where it excavates nesting burrows in sandy or soft soil substrates. The species requires proximity to diverse native coastal flowering plants for pollen and nectar collection.
Threats
Coastal development and urbanization
Sea level rise and coastal erosion
Habitat fragmentation
Increased storm frequency and intensity
Loss of native flowering plants
Found in 35 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | DDData Deficient | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Coastal Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile maritima). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/coastal-leaf-cutter-bee