Why do the biggest bees in the world have such strange jaws

The bees that live on the Moluccas are not only the largest on the planet, but also the rarest. Judging by the fact that for several years they were considered a species that disappeared forever, there are not so many of them left. But a recently discovered bee family instilled hope in scientists, and the species was returned to the existing category. But this is such an unusual bee that its outstanding size fades into the background when it comes to its lifestyle and appearance.

In Latin, this rare insect is called Megachile pluto, but it is most often called the Wallace giant bee. And this, of course, is no coincidence, because it is 2 times larger than ordinary bees, which we used to see in our latitudes. The largest among them are traditionally females, whose body size is 3.9 cm, while the body size of the uterus of honey bees is 2-2.5 cm. The males of giant Wallace bees are slightly smaller, but they reach 2.3 cm. which is also a lot. A distinctive feature of the species is the presence of large jaws that resemble the horns of a stag beetle.

Like all other bees, this Indonesian species feeds on plant nectar. But for survival, he needs not only flowers, but termites. No, these hymenopteran insects, although they have an impressive jaw size, are peace-loving animals and do not eat termites. Sly bees use their houses in which they make their hives. Having slightly modified the termite dwellings, which are located in the trunks and branches of trees, the bees lead a rather hidden life, and their hives are almost impossible to detect. This is partly why unusual bees have long been considered extinct. But not so long ago, an international team of scientists, after a thorough survey of forests in the Moluccas, was able to find a family of giant Wallace bees.

This was an almost detective operation, during which naturalists scrutinized dozens of trees populated by termites in the most thorough manner. Not a trace of the rarest bees was brought by wood resin, which is always present at the entrance to their home. The fact is that these bees do not just occupy part of the termite house, they build honeycombs and the structures they need inside. They use resin of trees as a building material, but they extract it just with the help of their unusual jaws, which they use as a tool.

These bees are really very rare. Under the current conditions, when their natural habitat is under threat, this species needs enhanced protection and comprehensive study. Due to their secretive lifestyle, very little is still known about them. Although merchants of entomological rarities, apparently, know about their habitats. This can be judged by the fact that specimens of giant bees sometimes come across at prestigious auctions, as well as found in private collections. Their incredible size also threatens their well-being, because every wealthy collector at all costs wants to have a copy of an unusual bee with huge jaws.