Great Basin Bumble Bee

Bombus centralis

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Apinae
Tribe: Bombini
Genus: Bombus
Species: centralis

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bombus centralis: /ˈbɒmbəs sɛnˈtreɪlɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Bombus (Pyrobombus) centralis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Bombus centralis, known as the Great Basin Bumble Bee, is a bumblebee species described by Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1864, found across parts of Canada and the western United States, recognized for its distinctive coloration and ecological role as a pollinator.

Physical Characteristics

Bombus centralis is a small bumblebee with a long face and proboscis and light brown wings. The queen has a body length between 12.5 and 16 mm (0.49 and 0.63 in) and a wingspan of 29 to 33 mm (1.1 to 1.3 in); males have a length of 10 to 13 mm (0.39 to 0.51 in) and a wingspan of 22 to 29 mm (0.87 to 1.14 in), while workers range from 9.5 to 12.5 mm (0.37 to 0.49 in) with a wingspan of 23 to 28 mm (0.91 to 1.10 in). The color of the thorax and anterior abdomen is yellow, with terga 3 and 4 (females) or terga 3 to 5 (males) orange-red, and the tail is black. Overall, the hair is long, with a black band across the thorax.

Identification Tips

The yellow coloration of Bombus centralis is more golden, and it has inconspicuous black hairs on the thorax anteriorly, unlike Bombus flavifrons, which has extensive black hairs resulting in a grizzled appearance. The yellow facial hairs of Bombus centralis are also notable, and the shorter malar space can be seen with experience in both sexes.

Habitat

Prairies or river valleys, often nesting in disused rodent nests.

Distribution

From British Columbia and Alberta in Canada to California, Arizona, and New Mexico in the United States.

Diet

Bombus centralis forages on various plant taxa including wild onions, rabbitbrush, thistles, goldenbushes, coyote mints, penstemons, and phacelias.

Life Cycle

Hibernating queens appear in late May to build nests, with the first workers emerging about a month later. The nest declines in September, and all bees except new queens die.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinator in various ecosystems, particularly in prairies and river valleys.