Bombus mixtus

Bombus mixtus

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Apinae
Genus: Bombus
Subgenus: Pyrobombus
Species: B. mixtus
Binomial name
Bombus mixtus
Cresson, 1878[1]

Bombus mixtus is a species of bumble bee in the Pyrobombus subgenus. Native to western North America and described in 1878.[2] These relatively small bees can be identified by hair markings on the adbdomen and thorax. The bees are noted for a red tail tip separated by a black stripe form pale hairs on T1 and T2. Males may appear similar to Bombus frigidus, but can be differentiated by a distinctive patch of dense hairs located on basal segments of their flagellum and separation of the red tail tip from yellow basal tergal segments.

One proposed common name, "Fuzzy-horned Bumble Bee", has been criticised as being too long, unrelated to the Latin name, and only applicable to male specimens. A proposed alternate name, "Mixed Bumble Bee" is closer to the Latin, but is not very descriptive, though reportedly "refers to a diagnostic character present in both sexes."[3] Neither name seems to have caught on.

The bees are widely distributed throughout their range, which includes: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming.[4] They are common in mountain meadows.

Synonyms and other taxonomic names: Bombus edwardsii var russulus Frison, 1927[3]

References

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Bombus mixtus
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