A leaf-surface fungus mediates interactions between leafcutter bees and the plants they cut to line their nests

Many arthropods damage leaves, a phenomenon that is foundational to their impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Leaf traits, including chemistry, shape these interactions. In turn, leaf-surface (phylloplane) microbes can act directly or in concert with chemistry to influence leaf choice, especially by insects whose reproductive success is tied to prolonged contact with leaf surfaces. Leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.) cut discs from leaves to line their nests, with leaves and their associated microbes forming the environment in which bees’ offspring develop. We predicted that phylloplane microbial communities act in concert with leaf chemistry to mediate interactions between the leafcutter bee M. lippiae and the plants they cut. We surveyed phylloplane communities on rose (Rosa × hybrida, Rosaceae) leaflets that were cut vs. not cut by wild M. lippiae. Then, we inoculated rose leaves in the field to test the effect of abundant microbes on cutting. Microbial communities differed between cut a..., , , # A leaf-surface fungus mediates interactions between leafcutter bees and the plants they cut to line their nests

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqk5](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqk5)

## Description of the data and file structure

These files contain data on the phylloplane microbial communities and metabolomes of rose leaflets. We collected these data to understand how the leaf microbiome and chemistry affect cutting by leafcutter bees.

### Files and variables

#### File: rp_compounds_table.xlsx

**Description:** Contains a list of compounds identified in metabolomics analyses along with chromatographic and spectral data. Intended as a supplementary table, not a raw data file.

#### File: full_microbial_communities_hilic.csv

**Description:** Contains metabolomic data collected through hydrophobic interaction liquid chromatography, plus morphotype-based phylloplane microbial community data, for 20 rose leaflets.

##### Variables

* ind: identifier for the rose individua...,