Bombus centralis
| Bombus centralis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Queen | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Bombus |
| Subgenus: | Pyrobombus |
| Species: | B. centralis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bombus centralis | |
Bombus centralis, the central bumblebee, is a species of bumble bee found in parts of Canada and the western United States. The species was first described by Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1864.[2][3]
Description
[edit]Bombus centralis is a small bumblebee with a long face and proboscis[2] and light brown wings. The queen has a body length between 12.5 and 16 mm (0.49 and 0.63 in) and a wing span of 29 to 33 mm (1.1 to 1.3 in); the males have a length of 10 to 13 mm (0.39 to 0.51 in) and a wing span of 22 to 29 mm (0.87 to 1.14 in), while the workers are 9.5 to 12.5 mm (0.37 to 0.49 in) in length with a wing span of 23 to 28 mm (0.91 to 1.10 in).[4] The colouration of the thorax and anterior part of the abdomen is yellow, while terga (abdominal segments) 3 and 4 (for the females) and 3 to 5 (males) are orange-red. The tail is black; overall the hair is long. Across the thorax is a black, medially located band.[2]
Distribution
[edit]The species is distributed from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada to California, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.[3]
Ecology
[edit]The bumblebee lives in prairies or river valleys. The hibernating queens appear in late May and start building a nest, often in disused rodent nests. About a month later, the first workers emerge. The nest declines in September, and all the bees, except the new queens, die.[4] The bees forage on various plant taxa, such as wild onions, rabbitbrush, thistles, goldenbushes, coyote mints, penstemons, and phacelias.[1]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c Hatfield, R.; Jepsen, S.; Thorp, R.; Richardson, L.; Colla, S. (2014). "Bombus centralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T44937777A69001290. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T44937777A69001290.en. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Koch, J.; J. Strange & P. Williams (2012). "Bumble Bees of the Western United States" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. pp. 34–37. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b "North American bumblebees". Bumblebee.org. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
- ^ a b Van Haga, A. (2007). "Species Details Bombus centralis". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 15, 2020.