Bombus nevadensis

Cresson, 1874

Nevada bumble bee, Nevada bumblebee

Bombus nevadensis, the Nevada , is a North American bumble bee distinguished by its long and distinctive coloration. Queens and have entirely black , while males display yellow on the and top of the head. The species inhabits open from Alaska to California and east to Wisconsin, with extending into Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. It nests underground and forages on a variety of flowering plants.

Bombus nevadensis by no rights reserved, uploaded by Steve Wells. Used under a CC0 license.

Bombus nevadensis by (c) Sean Frey, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sean Frey. Used under a CC-BY license.

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Bombus nevadensis: //ˈbɒm.bəs ˌnɛ.vəˈdɛn.sɪs//

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Identification

Distinguished from similar bumble bees by the combination of entirely black in females versus yellow-marked head in males. The long is a notable feature. Yellow with potential central black spot, and yellow on first three abdominal segments with black . Male red tail tip is distinctive. Genetic and morphological evidence confirms separation from Bombus auricomus (black and gold ), which was formerly considered a .

Images

Appearance

Medium to large with short, dense fur. Queens average 20 mm in length, 17 mm, and males 14 mm. Females (queens and workers) have entirely black . Males have yellow and yellow on the top of the head. is yellow, sometimes with a hairless black spot in the center. First three abdominal tergites are yellow; remainder of is black. Male abdomen terminates with a more or less red tail tip. Long relative to body size.

Habitat

Open areas including prairies and meadows. Nests are constructed underground, typically in burrows or cavities in soil.

Distribution

Native to North America. Western range extends from Alaska through California. Eastern extent reaches Wisconsin. Southern distribution includes Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico.

Diet

forager utilizing diverse flowering plants. Documented food plants include milkvetches (Astragalus), thistles (Cirsium), melilots (Melilotus), bergamot (Monarda), penstemons (Penstemon), phacelias (Phacelia), salvias (Salvia), betony (Stachys), and clovers (Trifolium).

Life Cycle

Eusocial colony structure with , , and male . Nests underground. Specific details of colony founding, development timing, and not documented in available sources.

Behavior

Underground nesting. Foraging activity focused on open flowers. No documented specialized beyond typical social foraging.

Ecological Role

of native and agricultural plants. Contribution to pollination services in prairie and meadow . Long may facilitate access to flowers with deeper corollas.

Human Relevance

Subject of conservation concern due to broader declines in North American . Identified as one of five common bumble bee in Sierra Nevada research, with distinct floral preferences informing restoration planning. Used in research on bumble bee movement, landscape genetics, and health.

Similar Taxa

Bombus auricomusFormerly considered (B. nevadensis auricomus), but genetic and morphological evidence supports -level separation. Black and gold color pattern distinguishes B. auricomus.
Bombus vosnesenskiiOverlapping range in western North America; B. vosnesenskii (yellow-faced ) has yellow in both sexes, unlike the sexually dimorphic coloration of B. nevadensis.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Bombus auricomus was historically treated as B. nevadensis auricomus. Current evidence supports their recognition as distinct .

Conservation Research

Research in the Sierra Nevada documented B. nevadensis as one of five common showing distinct floral selection patterns, with data applied to USDA Forest Service restoration planning in Plumas National Forest.