Violet Carpenter Bee Xylocopa violacea
(c) Mattia Menchetti, some rights reserved (CC BY)
OrderAnts, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Hymenoptera)
FamilyHoney Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies (Apidae)
GenusLarge Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa)
Picture one of Europe's largest bees approaching: iridescent purple-black wings, a chunky body, and a deep buzz that fills the air. The violet carpenter bee is unforgettable and supremely confident, nesting alone in dead wood rather than joining colonies. Its impressive size makes it a powerhouse pollinator, and its dramatic appearance marks it as one of the continent's most magnificent native bees.
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