Abstract
The alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (Fab.), is an important pollinator of alfalfa in western Canada and is widely utilized for alfalfa seed production (Richards 1984). As a beneficial insect, the alfalfa leafcutting bee must be considered, along with the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., as a non-target organism of importance in evaluations of potential microbial control agents for use against major insect pest species on the Canadian prairies.