| Bombus mesomelas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mercantour, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Bombus |
| Species: | B. mesomelas |
| Binomial name | |
| Bombus mesomelas Gerstaecker, 1869 | |
Bombus mesomelas (also called black-backed bumblebee) is a species of bumblebees. [1] [2] [3]
 | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2023) |
The nominate form lives in the Cantabrian Mountains, in the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, in the Giant Mountains and in the Carpathian Mountains, less often in the Central European Central Mountains. The subspecies Bombus mesomelas alboluteus VOGT, 1909 is disjointly distributed with a western population in the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula and an eastern one in the East Anatolian highlands, the Caucasus up to the Elburs. Lost in Germany, proven from Thuringia, Saxony and Bavaria (last find 1956). In Austria, with the exception of Burgenland, reported from all federal states. In Switzerland in the entire Alpine region and the Jura, historically also from the northern Alpine foothills. [4] [5]
The species is found on sunny mountain slopes. [4] It vafours dry and warm locations in the middle and high mountains. From the montane to the alpine altitude, in Central Europe already from 600 m. [4]
The species is univoltine. The overwintered females appear around the end of May, young females and males from the end of August. [4] Bombus mesomelas is a polylectic species. It nests mainly underground in abandoned mouse kettles, then nest-maker, but seldom also in the herb layer, then nest-builder. The species is a Pocketmaker. [4] The colonies comprise 50 to 120 individuals. [5]
From the Greek "meso" = "middle "and "mela " = "black"; because of the transverse band of black hair between the wings. [4]
Subgenus Thoracobombus DALLA TORRE, 1880. [5]
In Central Europe in the subspecies Bombus mesomelas mesomelas GERSTAECKER, 1869 occurs. [5]
Synonyms: Megabombus mesomelas (GERSTAECKER, 1869); Bombus elegans mesomelas (GERSTAECKER, 1869); Bombus pomorum var.mesomelas (GERSTAECKER, 1869). [5]
A bumblebee is any of over 250 species in the genus Bombus, part of Apidae, one of the bee families. This genus is the only extant group in the tribe Bombini, though a few extinct related genera are known from fossils. They are found primarily in higher altitudes or latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, although they are also found in South America, where a few lowland tropical species have been identified. European bumblebees have also been introduced to New Zealand and Tasmania. Female bumblebees can sting repeatedly, but generally ignore humans and other animals.
Bombus fraternus is an endangered species of bumblebee known commonly as the Southern Plains bumblebee. It is native to the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It is most often encountered in the southern Great Plains and along the Gulf Coastal Plain. This species has been found as far north as New Jersey and North Dakota, and as far south as Florida along the Gulf Coastal Plain into the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. This species was uncommon historically, but having faced declines in population; its estimated abundance is less than 15% of historical numbers.
The early bumblebee or early-nesting bumblebee is a small bumblebee with a wide distribution in most of Europe and parts of Asia. It is very commonly found in the UK and emerges to begin its colony cycle as soon as February which is earlier than most other species, hence its common name. There is even some evidence that the early bumblebee may be able to go through two colony cycles in a year. Like other bumblebees, Bombus pratorum lives in colonies with queen and worker castes. Bombus pratorum queens use aggressive behavior rather than pheromones to maintain dominance over the workers!
The tree bumblebee or new garden bumblebee is a species of bumblebee common in the European continent and parts of Asia. Since the start of the twenty-first century, it has spread to the United Kingdom and Iceland. These bumblebees prefer habitats that others do not, allowing them to pollinate flowers in areas that many other species do not get to.
Bombus lapidarius is a species of bumblebee in the subgenus Melanobombus. Commonly known as the red-tailed bumblebee, B. lapidarius can be found throughout much of Central Europe. Known for its distinctive black and red body, this social bee is important in pollination.
Bombus polaris is a common Arctic bumblebee species. B. polaris is one of two bumblebees that live above the Arctic Circle. The other is its social parasite Bombus hyperboreus. B. polaris is a social bee that can survive at near freezing temperatures. It has developed multiple adaptations to live in such cold temperatures. B. polaris has a thicker coat of hair than most bees, utilizes thermoregulation, and makes insulated nests.
Bombus balteatus, the golden-belted bumble bee, is a species of bumblebee with a boreal and high altitude distribution in northern Eurasia and North America.
The broken-belted bumblebee or Ilfracombe bumblebee is a species of bumblebee present in most of Europe and parts of Asia.
Bombus wurflenii is a species of bumblebee found in several parts of central and northern Europe to Turkey and the Crimea peninsula in the southeast.
Bombus monticola, the bilberry bumblebee, blaeberry bumblebee or mountain bumblebee, is a species of bumblebee found in Europe.
The heath humble-bee or small heath bumblebee, Bombus jonellus, is a species of bumblebee, widely distributed in Europe and northern Asia, as well as northern North America.
Bombus pensylvanicus, the American bumblebee, is a threatened species of bumblebee native to North America. It occurs in eastern Canada, throughout much of the Eastern United States, and much of Mexico.
Bombus occidentalis, the western bumblebee, is one of around 30 bumblebee species present in the western United States and western Canada. A recent review of all of its close relatives worldwide appears to have confirmed its status as a separate species.
The apple humble-bee or apple bumblebee is a species of bumblebee.
Bombus flavifrons, the yellow-fronted bumble bee or yellowhead bumblebee, is a species of bumblebee. It is native to North America, where it is distributed across much of Canada, Alaska, and the western contiguous United States.
Bombus pyrenaeus is a species of bumblebee. It is native to Europe, where it occurs in Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Its German-language common name is Pyrenäenhummel. It is a common species, becoming abundant in some areas.
Bombus semenoviellus is a species of insect belonging to the family Apidae.
Tetraloniella dentata is a species of bees within the genus Tetraloniella.
Trachusa byssina is a species of bees within the genus Trachusa.
Sichel's bumblebee is a species of bumblebee.