Chernobyl sightings confirm presence of one of Europe's largest bee species.

A xylocopa, a large carpenter bee known for its black body and dark wings with a violet-blue sheen, has been observed in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. This species, one of the largest bees in Europe, can grow up to approximately 3 cm in length. The sighting was reported on September 19 within the Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve, where the common xylocopa, or Xylocopa valga, is noted for its rarity yet is relatively common in forested areas with ample dead wood.