Bombus mixtus

Cresson, 1879

Fuzzy-Horned Bumble Bee, Tricoloured Bumblebee, Orange-Belted Bumblebee, Mixed Bumblebee

Bombus mixtus is a native to western North America, with a disjunct in the Great Lakes region. It occupies diverse including mountain meadows, taiga, tundra, chaparral, and open grassy areas. The species has been documented feeding on multiple flowering plant and nests both underground and on the surface. It is one of several Bombus species surveyed during 2016 conservation efforts for rare bumble bees in the Mt. Ashland area of Oregon.

Bombus mixtus by (c) Lee Cain, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lee Cain. Used under a CC-BY license.

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bombus mixtus: /ˈbɒmbʊs ˈmɪkstəs/

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

Images

Habitat

Mountain ; taiga and tundra in northern areas; open grassy habitat; chaparral; shrublands; meadows. Nests underground or on the surface.

Distribution

Western North America including western Canada and the United States; disjunct in the Great Lakes region. Documented in the Mt. Ashland and Siskiyou-Cascade National Monument area of Oregon during 2016 surveys.

Diet

Feeds at flowers of Ceanothus, fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), coyote mints (Monardella), penstemons, phacelias, rhododendrons, and groundsels (Senecio).

Ecological Role

of wild flowering plants in montane and northern .

Human Relevance

Subject of citizen science surveys; observed during 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey for rare bumble bees including Bombus franklini and Bombus occidentalis.

Similar Taxa

Bombus vosnesenskiiBoth co-occur in western North American and were documented together during 2016 surveys at Mt. Ashland, Oregon.
Bombus melanopygusSympatric in western North America; both recorded during same 2016 survey events in Oregon.
Bombus flavifronsOverlapping range in western North America; documented together in 2016 surveys at Mt. Ashland and Hobart Bluff, Oregon.

More Details

Survey Documentation

Recorded during July 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surveys at Mt. Ashland (July 18-19) and Hobart Bluff trailhead area (July 20), Oregon, as part of efforts to locate rare Bombus franklini and Bombus occidentalis.