Large Carpenter bee - Xylocopa violacea - Bomblu iswed |
The large carpenter bee is the most common species of carpenter bee in. It is the largest
solitary bee in Europe. Carpenter bees can be found in most parts of the world.
About 500 species have been identified but only three have been recorded in the
Maltese islands. They get their name because nearly all species build their
nests in burrows in dead wood. The large carpenter bee prefers to build it in
the giant reeds.
In Maltese the large
carpenter bee it is known as bomblu iswed.
This species of
carpenter bee is found mainly in southern Europe. In recent years it started to
expand its range northwards probably as a result of climate change which is
resulting in warmer temperatures in most parts of Europe.
In 2006 it was recorded
for the first time in Wales and since then it has been recorded regularly in
various localities throughout England.
In Malta the large
carpenter bee is not normally active during the winter months. Adults hibernate
and emerge only when the days start to warm up. This year I saw it on several
days in January. I even saw several couples mating at Is-Simar Nature Reserve
and looking for suitable reeds in which to build their nest. This weekend’s
cold windy weather must have sent them back to hibernation.
This species has large
mandibles which it used to excavate into wood. It creates a tunnel and at its
end it builds a number of separate cells which it stocks with nectar and
pollen. The bee lays its eggs on the pollen and then leaves the nest to allow
the larvae to develop on their own.
The large carpenter bee
flies with a loud buzzing sound. To those who are not familiar with it, it may
seem frightening but it is not aggressive at all and will attack only if
provoked. The only person I know of who has been stung by this species accidentally
put his hand in the sleeve of a jacket in which a large carpenter bee was
resting.
This article was published in The Times of Malta on 29 January 2014
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