Bombus nevadensis
| Nevada bumblebee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Bombus |
| Subgenus: | Bombias |
| Species: | B. nevadensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Bombus nevadensis (Cresson, 1874) | |
The Nevada bumblebee (Bombus nevadensis) is a species of bumblebee found in North America.
Description
A bumblebee with a long proboscis (tongue) and a short, dense fur, the females (queens and workers) have an entirely black head, while the face and top of the head of the male are yellow.[1] The thorax is yellow, sometimes with a hairless, black spot in the middle. The three first terga (abdominal segments) are yellow, while the rest of the abdomen is black.[2] However, the tip of the tail is more or less red in the male.[2] The average body length is 20 mm (0.79 in) for the queen, 17 mm (0.67 in) (worker) and 14 mm (0.55 in) (male).[1]
The very rare, considerably darker rusty-patched bumblebee (Bombus auricomus) is sometimes considered a subspecies of this species, B. nevadensis auricomus.[2]
Distribution
The species is found from Alaska to California in the west, and east to Wisconsin, and in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico.[2]
Ecology
The Nevada bumblebee is important as a pollinator of red clover.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Anthony P. Solli (1999-10-20). "Bees: An Interdisciplinary Approach". Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 "North American bumblebees". Bumblebee.org. Retrieved 26 January 2013.