This species is found in the western United States, where it ranges from Montana and South Dakota to New Mexico, west to California and north to Oregon, and often inhabits meadows and gardens.

The bee is black, but covered by golden/yellow hair on its face, behind its eyes, on its thorax, below its wings (which are blackish) and on its legs.

The nests of M. fidelis are created in almost exactly the same fashion as, M. perihirta, the Western Leafcutting Bee.

As with the case of many bees, larva grow extremely rapidly when in their brood cells.

It is often found that this species of bee leave their nests around spring.