Giant bee facts for kids
Megachile pluto, also known as Wallace's giant bee, is an incredibly large Indonesian bee. It holds the record as the biggest known living bee species on Earth!
For a long time, people thought this giant bee was extinct. But then, in 1981, a few were found again. After that, no more were seen until 2018, when two were collected and sold online. Finally, in 2019, a live female bee was found and filmed for the very first time, showing us this amazing creature in action!
This bee belongs to the Megachilidae family. Bees in this family carry pollen on the underside of their bodies. Wallace's giant bee is about 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long. Its wingspan can reach up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches), which is huge for a bee!
Where Does Wallace's Giant Bee Live?
Wallace's giant bees live in Indonesia. They are found on some islands in a region called the North Moluccas. This area is known for its rich wildlife and unique species.
How Does Wallace's Giant Bee Live?
Wallace's giant bees build their homes inside the active nests of tree-dwelling termites. This special hiding spot might be why they were so hard to find for many years, even for people living on the islands!
The female bee uses sticky tree resin to create separate rooms inside the termite nest. These resin compartments help protect her living spaces. Female bees often leave their nests to collect more resin. They use their very large jaws to gather the resin, shaping it into big balls that they carry. It seems like these bees might need to live with termites to survive.
