Background & Aims

This project aims to understand the habitat requirements of the hairy-footed leafcutter bee (Megachile lagopoda). The probability of occurrence and local population size of this specialist bee were analyzed in relation to the abundance of its host plant the greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa), other abiotic factors, and the connectivity between sites across a large landscape in central Östergötland. It was hypothesized that a minimum threshold of host plant abundance is necessary for bee presence and that connectivity significantly influences bee distribution but not local abundance. Additionally, environmental factors such as topography likely affect bee presence and abundance independent of host plant availability. This knowledge is essential for conservation efforts aimed at preserving habitats and host plants for M. lagopoda, particularly in the context of ongoing landscape fragmentation and habitat loss.