Meet the largest bee in the world, called ‘the flying bulldog’

Meet Wallace’s Giant Bee, the world’s largest bee known as the “flying bulldog." (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Wallace’s Giant Bee, dubbed “the flying bulldog”, is the world’s largest bee and one of the most fascinating creatures in the insect kingdom.

Discovered more than 160 years ago by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, the bee vanished from view for decades, eluding scientists and explorers alike. Its rediscovery in 2019 on the Indonesian island of North Moluccas by a search team from The Search for Lost Species, a Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) initiative, had sparked excitement across the global scientific community at the time.

The nickname comes from its enormous size, intimidating buzz, and muscular build. Females of the species can reach lengths of 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), roughly four times larger than a honeybee, and boast a wingspan of about 2.5 inches (6.3 cm).

With oversized mandibles and a black armoured body, the bee appears more like a flying tank than a garden pollinator.

“It was absolutely breathtaking to see this ‘flying bulldog’ of an insect that we weren’t sure existed any more,” Clay Bolt, a specialist photographer who obtained the first images of the species alive, told The Guardian in 2019. “To actually see how beautiful and big the species is in life, to hear the sound of its giant wings thrumming as it flew past my head, was just incredible.”

Wallace’s Giant Bee (Megachile pluto) lives exclusively in lowland forests in Indonesia, particularly in North Moluccas. It’s a solitary bee, meaning it doesn’t form hives like honeybees or bumblebees.

Its home? Not your usual bee nest. This species nests in active termite mounds, using its huge mandibles to scrape tree resin and line the chambers, creating a water-proof safe space for itself and its young. Scientists believe this nesting strategy protects the bee from predators, and harsh environmental elements.

Before its 2019 rediscovery, the last confirmed sighting was in 1981. Since then, it was feared to be extinct, until researchers, guided by historical records and a bit of luck, found a lone female in a termite mound.

Currently, Wallace’s Giant Bee is classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List. Its forest habitat is under constant pressure from deforestation, logging, and agriculture. There’s also a growing concern over illegal wildlife trade.

Before the rediscovery, photos of a specimen in a display case had appeared on eBay, selling for $9,100 according to the BBC Wildlife Magazine, prompting conservationists to urge protections.