Japanese Carpenter Bee vs Wallacea Giant Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Carpenter Bee | Wallacea Giant Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xylocopa appendiculata | Megachile pluto |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Megachilidae |
| Size | 20-25 mm | 23-39 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
Japanese Carpenter Bee
A large, robust carpenter bee known as 'kumabachi' (bear bee) in Japanese due to its fuzzy appearance. Builds nests by boring tunnels into dead wood. An important pollinator of many plants.
Did You Know?
Despite their intimidating buzz and large size, Japanese carpenter bees are generally docile, and males cannot sting at all.
Wallacea Giant Bee
The worlds largest bee at 39 mm long with a 63 mm wingspan. Thought extinct for 38 years until rediscovered in Indonesia in 2019. Nests inside active termite mounds.
Did You Know?
Wallace giant bee was not seen alive by a scientist for 38 years — when rediscovered in 2019, it was found nesting inside active termite mounds, using tree resin to waterproof its cells.