|
|
|
|
Back To
Size (20-23 mm long)
Description
These bees have powerful mandibles (jaws) that can dig tunnels in wood. Xylocopa violacea a huge , black bee found in central and southern Europe nests in dead wood and digs a tunnel up to 30 cm long containing 10-15 cells.
This bee holds the record for laying the largest egg of any insect. . Naturally a large number of carpenter nests in the structural support of a buildings this may cause some damage.
One behaviour can be alarming though. The males compete with other males to mate with females. This involves them chasing males away and chasing females to mate. During pursuits they are unoblivious of anything in the way. Males may also hang around waiting for adult females to emerge, and again they behave in what might seem to us as an aggressive way, by chasing other males away and investigating anything that gets near the exit hole.
bravenet.com
