Bombus pomorum

Bombus pomorum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Apidae
Genus:	Bombus
Subgenus:	Thoracobombus
Species:	B. pomorum
Binomial name
Bombus pomorum (Panzer, 1805)[1]

The apple humble-bee or apple bumblebee (Bombus pomorum) is a species of bumblebee.[1]

Description

This bumblebee is black with a red tail, an oblong head, and a long proboscis. The male has pale hairs on the collar, scutellum, and first tergite (abdominal segment).[2] The queen has a body length between 20 and 22 mm (0.79 and 0.87 in), the worker around 14 mm (0.55 in), and the male 15 mm (0.59 in).[3]

Distribution

The apple humble-bee is found in western and central Europe and western Turkey, from northern France to the Perm region in Russia, but it is declining and once had a much wider distribution.[4] It was once present in the United Kingdom and was found once in Kent recently, but it is doubtful it is still established there. [2]

Ecology

This species is mainly found in wood-edges and open fields. The Turkish subspecies B. p. canus, however, lives on more or less alpine steppes at altitudes between 1,600 and 3,500 m (5,200 and 11,500 ft).[5]

References

1. "Bombus pomorum (Panzer, 1805)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
2. Benton, Ted (2006). "Appendix 1: Species Considered Extinct in Britain". Bumblebees. London, UK: HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 529–530. ISBN 0007174519.
3. "Obsthummel – Bombus pomorum" (in German). Wildbienen. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
4. Pierre Rasmont. "Bombus (Thoracobombus) pomorum (Panzer, 1805)". Université de Mons. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
5. Pierre Rasmont. "Bombus (Thoracobombus) pomorum (Panzer, 1805)". Atlas Hymenoptera – Bombus of Turkey. Université de Mons. Retrieved 4 February 2013.