What to check first
Compare the edges of several holes
Look for repeated smooth arcs cut from leaf margins, rather than ragged chewing across the blade. Colorado describes this characteristic leafcutter pattern. Photograph a fresh cut and a whole leaf, but do not use a single hole as proof that every nearby injury came from bees. [1]
Look at the whole plant
Check whether most foliage remains and the plant continues growing normally. Roses, redbuds and several other shrubs can show leafcutter activity without needing control. A few neatly cut leaves are a cosmetic issue; extensive or unusual tissue loss merits another look at the cause. [3]
Observe activity without handling bees
A bee may briefly cut a piece and carry it away to build a nesting cell. These bees work individually rather than forming a honeybee-style colony. Watch from a little distance and leave suspected nest entrances undisturbed; the pieces are construction material, not their food. [2]
Choose the next step for your plant
Tolerate minor confirmed cutting
Leave the remaining leaves to function and monitor new growth. An otherwise healthy shrub with a few cut margins normally needs no treatment for this activity. The goal is to check plant performance, not remove every sign that a pollinator has visited. [3]
Consider selective protection only when needed
Where repeated cutting is unusually concentrated on a valued small plant, a temporary fine cloth barrier can exclude bees. Support and secure it so it does not crush foliage, inspect it regularly and remove it when unnecessary. Covering flowers also prevents pollinator access, so consider that tradeoff. [2]
What to avoid
- Do not spray insecticide to prevent leafcutting; Colorado State reports that it is ineffective for this purpose.
- Do not destroy nests or seal occupied cavities just because nearby leaves have a few circles missing.
What to watch next
Compare fresh damage and plant growth over the following week. If holes become ragged, whole shoots disappear or the plant declines, document that new pattern separately. It may involve another animal, insect or growing problem rather than heavier activity by the same bees.
Common questions
Can leafcutter bees ever cause significant damage?
Occasionally, concentrated cutting can remove substantial leaf tissue; Colorado notes this especially in isolated plantings. That exception is a reason to inspect the amount of foliage lost, not to treat every characteristic circle as a serious infestation. [1]
Do cut leaves mean the bees are eating my plant?
They use the cut pieces to line nest cells and provision young with pollen and nectar. Their nesting behavior explains the distinctive missing margins. Leaves will retain those gaps, but limited cutting usually has little effect on an otherwise healthy plant. [2]
Sources and review
This guide was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources below. It has not been reviewed by a botanist. Conditions and plant responses vary; use the checks above to decide what applies. Read our editorial standards.
- Colorado State University Extension: Leafcutter bees
Smooth marginal cuts, occasional concentrated injury and ineffective insecticide prevention.
- Utah State University Extension: Leafcutter bees
Leaf pieces form nesting cells; tolerate ordinary damage and use selective exclusion if needed.
- University of Maryland Extension: Leafcutter bees on shrubs and flowers
Common affected hosts, solitary cavity nesting and usually minor plant damage.