First described in 1858 by Alfred Russel Wallace, the enormous Wallace’s giant bee (Megachile pluto) holds the title of the world’s largest bee. After being lost to science for nearly four decades, the species was dramatically rediscovered in 2019.
A team from the Search for Lost Species, a Global Wildlife Conservation initiative, located the insect on Indonesia’s North Moluccas islands. For the first time in history, the bee was photographed and filmed alive in its natural habitat.
“It was absolutely breathtaking to see this ‘flying bulldog’ of an insect that we weren’t sure existed anymore,” said natural history photographer Clay Bolt, who captured the first living images. “Hearing the sound of its giant wings as it flew past my head was incredible. My hope is that this rediscovery will help turn the bee into a symbol of conservation for this part of Indonesia.”
A Rare and Mysterious Insect
Until the 2019 rediscovery, there had only been two confirmed sightings:
- 1858 – Wallace himself described the bee as “a large black wasp-like insect, with immense jaws like a stag-beetle.”
- 1981 – Entomologist Adam Messer observed the species in the wild.
Reports later surfaced of 20–30 individuals spotted in the 1990s by French entomologist Rich Desmier de Chenon, guided by locals familiar with the bee. However, these observations were never formally published due to fears the publicity might encourage collectors.
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That fear was well-founded. In 2018, a single specimen of Wallace’s giant bee was sold on eBay for $9,100, highlighting the threats posed by illegal wildlife trade.
Just How Big Is It?
- Body length: up to 4.5 cm
- Wingspan: up to 6 cm
The bee nests inside active termite mounds, using its powerful jaws to scrape resin and wood for construction.
A Symbol of Conservation
For decades, Wallace’s giant bee seemed to have vanished, but its rediscovery offers hope—not only for the species itself but for efforts to protect biodiversity in Indonesia. As Bolt puts it, this remarkable insect can serve as a “point of pride for local communities” and a reminder of the importance of preserving fragile ecosystems.
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Composite image showing the size difference between a European honeybee work and the female Wallace's giant bee. Clay Bolt
