The Violet Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa violacea is a bee of southern Europe although sighting have been made in the UK.I have not been lucky enough as yet to see Europe's largest bee here on the Isle of Wight.Perhaps there would be a chance to see one on my latest holiday to the Greek Islands which took place last week although I had already come across this bee on the Greek Island of Lefkada in May. I was not disappointed as I was treated to two separate sightings despite the fact that by now the bees are showing some wear and tear and their wings have lost that lovely violet colouring.
