Bombus rufocinctus

Bombus rufocinctus is a species of bumblebee known by the common name red-belted bumblebee.[1][2] It is native to North America where it has a wide distribution across Canada and the western, midwestern, and northeastern United States.[1][2] It may occur in Mexico.[1]

Bombus rufocinctus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Subgenus: Cullumanobombus
Species:
B. rufocinctus
Binomial name
Bombus rufocinctus
Cresson, 1863
Pinned specimen

The queen is 1.6 to 1.8 centimeters long and just under a centimeter wide at the abdomen. It is black with scattered gray and yellowish hairs on the head. The abdomen has many bright yellow hairs and areas of reddish hairs. The worker is 1.1 to 1.2 centimeters long and half a centimeter wide at the abdomen. It is similar to the queen but it may have longer hairs. The male is 1.2 to 1.3 centimeters long and half a centimeter wide at the abdomen. It is mostly black with more yellow on the head and abdomen.[3] This species displays four genetically-controlled color polymorphisms: the second and third abdominal terga may have red or black hairs, and the fourth and fifth may be either yellow or black.[4]

This small, short-tongued bee lives in and around wooded areas and it can be found in urban parks and gardens. It feeds on several kinds of plants, including chicories, snakeroots, strawberries, gumweeds, sunflowers, goldenrods, clovers, vetches, and goldeneyes. It usually nests on or above ground level.[1]

References
  1. Hatfield, R.; Jepsen, S.; Thorp, R.; Richardson, L. & Colla, S. (2015). "Bombus rufocinctus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T21215145A21215305. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T21215145A21215305.en.
  2. NatureServe. 2015. Bombus rufocinctus. NatureServe Explorer Version 7.1. Accessed 10 March 2016.
  3. Bombus rufocinctus. Mitchell, T. B. 1962. Bees of the Eastern United States. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin No. 152. Reprinted at Discoverlife.org.
  4. Owen, R. E., & Plowright, R. C. (1988). Inheritance of metasomal pile colour variation in the bumble bee Bombus rufocinctus Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 66(5), 1172-1178.
  • Bombus rufocinctus. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia. University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 10 March 2016.
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