Science_Illustrated_Australia_-_Issue70_2019

The biggest bee in the world is Wallace’s giant

bee, which lives in trees in Indonesia; it grows

up to 4cm long and can have a wing span over 6cm.

This year scientists managed to observe the bee

for the first time since 1981. The giant insect flies

through the tree-tops, moving into termite nests

and collecting resin from the trees, which it uses

to build protective barriers that then keep out the

termites when they try to re-conquer their nests.

Bee picture: World’s biggest

bee fi ghts termites in trees

Photo // NaturePL

NAT

UR

EPL

ORDINARY BEE

GIANT BEE

scienceillustrated.com.au | 9