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The world’s biggest bee disappeared from sight almost 40 years ago. It was thought to be lost forever, as is the case of so many insects becoming extinct in recent years. But in January this year, an expedition into the forests of Indonesia, discovered a specimen of Wallace’s giant bee.
Natural history photographer, Clay Bolt, was part of a team that discovered the bee. Its nest was carved into an active termite mound in a tree on one of the North Molucca islands. Bolt describes the bee as “breathtaking” with a length of about one and a half inches, (the size of a thumb) and a wingspan of approximately two and a half inches. It has immense jaws like a stag beetle which it uses to help build and secure its nest and make it waterproof and able to keep out termites.
The bee was first discovered in 1858 by Alfred Russel Wallace.
The discovery is encouraging for scientists reigniting their hope for what was thought to be a lost species.
