Frigid Bumble Bee

Bombus frigidus

Classification

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bombus frigidus: /ˈbɔm.bʊs ˈfriɡ.ɪ.dʊs/

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

Images

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

Summary

Bombus frigidus is a rare, cold-adapted bumblebee found in Canada and parts of the U.S., associated with unique flowering plants and exhibiting distinctive reproductive behaviors.

Physical Characteristics

Bombus frigidus has a yellow thorax and a black band that may not always be present on males. The T4–T5 segments of the abdomen are orange or yellow. Females have black facial hair, while males may have black or yellow facial hair. The corbicular fringe is pale orange, and the hair length is long.

Identification Tips

Confused with Bombus mixtus and Bombus balteatus; differs in copulation length and color patterns on the body.

Habitat

Cold, high-latitude or altitude areas with colonies formed in small burrows or on the ground.

Distribution

Found from Alaska to the eastern shore of Canada, and as far south as Colorado; erroneous reports in California, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Diet

Feeds on the nectar of plants including Cirsium (thistles), Epilobium, Geranium, Mertensia (bluebells), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), and Trifolium (clovers).

Life Cycle

Eusocial seasonal colony; queen survives winter in hibernaculum. Nesting starts around mid-May, with a growth of the colony through summer.

Reproduction

Mating occurs in early September; queens lay eggs and care for the brood initially, later producing new queens and males.

Conservation Status

Least Concern; populations are not decreasing despite being rare.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinator; interacts significantly with various wildflowers, especially Mertensia paniculata.

Economic Impact

Decline in native bumblebees may impact local agriculture and biodiversity due to reliance on native pollinators for crops.

Evolution

B. frigidus has evolved specifically to cope with cold environments, having adaptations that allow thermal regulation and faster reproductive cycles compared to temperate species.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Often misreported in regions where they do not exist; confusion with similar bumblebee species.