Pollination and honey production are the main sources of bee-related income created by over 1.55 million bee families. While the bees work is estimated to be worth four billion zlotys per year, they are still threatened by the loss of their natural habitats and pesticide use. Poland is home to 470 different bee species, with the western honey bee being the most common. The initiative to begin photographing the rare bee and post the pics on Facebook came from the Nature and Human Association (Stowarzyszenie Natura i Człowiek). They nest in old, rotten wood where they drill corridors, hence the name and are a protected species. The Violet Carpenter Bee is the biggest bee in Poland, reaching even 2.5cm. By 2016 they were identified in six permanent habitats – Wrocław, Oława, Miechów, Włoszczowa, Western Bieszczady Mountains and Poleski National Park. Luca Gobbatoįirst reports of the bees’ sightings began to emerge in 2004 and again in 2005. By 2016 they were identified in six permanent habitats.

Thank you for being with us and we can’t wait for the next season of search.”įirst reports of the bees’ sightings began to emerge in 2004 and again in 2005. The Nature and Human Association (Stowarzyszenie Natura i Człowiek), which started the initiative to monitor the black bees and encourages people to photograph and share their encounters with the insects, shared on Facebook: “Thanks to your activity, in 2018 we managed to find as many as 26 NEW Violet Carpenter Bee stands (Xylocopa violacea). The Violet Carpenter Bee, otherwise known as a Black Bee because of the distinctive dark violet, almost black colour of its wings and body, was declared officially extinct in 2002. Stowarzyszenie Natura i Człowiek/FacebookĪ large bee not seen in Poland for 70 years has made an incredible comeback after ecologists turned to the internet for help in finding the insects. Un-BEE-lievable! The Violet Carpenter Bee, otherwise known as a Black Bee because of the distinctive dark violet, almost black colour of its wings and body, was declared officially extinct in 2002.

Big all black bee