As a result of the changing climate more and more insects from the Mediterranean area can be found north of the Alps. This is also the case for the largest European bee, the violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea). Since about 25 years the insect is establishing itself in the warmer regions of Central Europe.
The violet carpenter bee has a body like a bumble bee, but larger than native bumble bee species. Mature adults of both sexes have an average body length of 3 cm and a wingspan of 5 cm. The violet carpenter bee is black and shiny, with an iridescent blue/violet sheen to the wings.
I stumbled into several violet carpenter bees at a flowering bush of clary sage (Salvia sclarea) yesterday.