Description
A leafcutter bee at work on a yellow blossom — close enough to count the hairs. Leafcutters (genus Megachile) are among our most useful native bees, and this photograph catches the two features that define them: the oversized cutting jaws, and the dense brush of pollen-carrying hairs along the underside of the abdomen.
They earn their name honestly. A female snips neat, near-perfect circles out of leaves — rose leaves are a favorite — and carries each piece home to line the cells of her nest, one tidy paper-wrapped nursery per egg. If you’ve ever found rose leaves cut like a hole punch went through them, you’ve met one.
This is a high-resolution digital download of the photograph, made in Portland, Oregon — yours to print for your home, set as a wallpaper, or simply keep.
What you’ll receive: a high-resolution JPEG, approximately 4400 × 3904 pixels — sharp enough to print at full photo quality up to about 14.7 × 13.0 inches at 300 DPI, and larger for wall display. Delivered as an instant download the moment your order is complete.
License: Personal use only. Print it for your own home, use it as a wallpaper or screen background, enjoy it yourself. Not licensed for commercial use, resale, redistribution, or AI training. © Jonathan Swanson / JonSwan Productions. All rights reserved.