Megachile pugnata is a species of North American bee in the family Megachilidae.[1] It was described by Thomas Say in 1837.[1]
Females are 12–18 mm in length while male are somewhat smaller: 11–13 mm. The adults are active from June to September.[2]
Females of this species are oligolectic on the pollen of plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, and commonly visit ironweeds (e.g. Vernonia fasciculata) for nectar.