The world of bees is a diverse one for sure, but the full scope of its diversity can be elusive to the casual observer. The differences between species are often so small to see that at best we can only distinguish genera in the field. Only occasionally comes around a bee with such a remarkable characteristic that makes it unmistakable to identify. The pugnacious leafcutter bee (Megachile pugnata), with its outsized mandibles, is one of those. I had my first sighting of the