''Xylocopa violacea'', the violet carpenter bee, is the common European species of

carpenter bee Carpenter bees are species in the genus ''Xylocopa'' of the subfamily Xylocopinae. The genus includes some 500 bees in 31 subgenera. The common name "carpenter bee" derives from their nesting behavior; nearly all species burrow into hard plant m ...

, and one of the largest bees in Europe. It is also native to

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

. Like most members of the genus '' Xylocopa'', it makes its nests in dead wood. It is not particularly aggressive, and will attack only if forced to.

Distribution

The range of ''Xylocopa violacea'' extends from Europe eastward across Asia as far as central China, restricted to latitudes above 30 degrees. In India, any all-black species of ''Xylocopa'' are referred to by the

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...

"" (or "" – – in Assamese), and reports and sightings of are commonly misattributed to this species; however, this species is found only in the northern regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Most sightings refer to any of several other common black ''Xylocopa'', such as '' X. nasalis'', '' X. tenuiscapa'', or ''X. tranquebarorum''. In 2006, ''Xylocopa violacea'' was reported from Cardigan, Wales. In 2007, it was found breeding for the first time in England, in

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warw ...

. This follows a northwards expansion of its range in France, Germany, and the

Channel Islands The Channel Islands are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They are divided into two Crown Dependencies: the Jersey, Bailiwick of Jersey, which is the largest of the islands; and the Bailiwick of Guernsey, ...

. In 2010 it was recorded in

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire ( ; abbreviated Northants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshi ...

and

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...

Description

Violet carpenter bees hibernate over winter and they emerge in the spring, usually around April or May. Hibernation is undertaken by the adults in wood where there are abandoned nest tunnels. In the late spring or early summer, they may be seen around searching for mates and suitable nesting sites. After mating, the gravid females bore tunnels in dead wood, which is where the name "carpenter bee" comes from, although old nest tunnels may be used. Like other solitary bees, the female creates the nest alone. The eggs are laid within a series of small cells, each of which is supplied with a pollen ball for the larvae to feed upon. The adults emerge in late summer then hibernate until the following year.Carpenter Bees
Buzzaboutbees.net (19 August 2015). Retrieved on 2015-09-28.

Gallery

File:Abeille charpentiere 1024.jpg, Male European carpenter bee File:Bee September 2007-15.jpg, Female European carpenter bee File:Violet carpenter bee (xylocopa violacea).JPG, In Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, United Arab Emirates File:Xylocopa violacea on a flower.jpg, In Barcelona File:Jardin des Martels - Abeille - 2016-08-07 - 03.jpg, In Jardins des Martels, France File:European violet carpenter bee.jpg, On a wild thistle in the Cévennes National Park, France File:Marvels of insect life; a popular account of structure and habit (1916) (14593767158).jpg, Cross-section of brood chambers File:Carpenter bee iran.jpg, Queen carpenter bee in IRAN File:Wing of blue carpenter bee.jpg, Wing of the violet carpenter bee under microscope

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xylocopa Violacea violacea Hymenoptera of Asia Hymenoptera of Europe Insects of the Middle East Insects of Central Asia Insects of West Asia Fauna of the Iberian Peninsula Insects of Afghanistan Insects of China Insects of Iran Insects of Mongolia Insects of Pakistan Insects of Russia Insects of Turkey Fauna of the British Isles Fauna of England Insects described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus