Bombus eximius explained

Bombus eximius is a species of bumblebee that belongs to the subgenus Melanobombus in the simplified subgeneric classification.[1] It is found in the Southern, Eastern and Southeastern parts of the Asian continent.

Characteristics

Bombus eximius is a very large species of bumblebee. The queens are 28–29 mm (29mm) long, while the female workers are 14mm19mm and the male workers 18mm19mm. The color of the hair on the thorax is black, and that on the mid and hind tibiae and the basitarsus is orange.[2] The bright coloration has also been described as "yellowish red" (via German: gelblichrot).[3]

This species can easily be misidentified as Bombus flavescens.[4]

The close-up view of the face of Bombus eximius shows the oculomandibular distance (OMD), i.e., the distance between the compound eye and the mandible, to be 0.9–1.0 times the mandible breadth. The labrum, i.e., lips, have irregular lamella, but are mostly straight. The inner eye margin has scattered large punctures.[2]

Ecology

The species is relatively uncommon in low altitude areas between 450m–1200mm (1,480feet–3,900feetm) around the Sichuan basin area.[2] It has been found in the Himalayan region, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China (Yunnan, Xizang, Sichuan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou), Taiwan and in Japan.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Williams. Paul H.. Cameron. Sydney A.. Hines. Heather M.. Cederberg. Bjorn. Rasmont. Pierre. A simplified subgeneric classification of the bumblebees (genusBombus). Apidologie. 39. 1. 2008. 46–74. 0044-8435. 10.1051/apido:2007052. 3489618.
  2. Williams. Paul. Tang. Ya. Yao. Jian. Cameron. Sydney. 86166557. The bumblebees of Sichuan (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombini). Systematics and Biodiversity. 7. 2. 2009. 101–189. 1477-2000. 10.1017/S1477200008002843.
  3. Frison. T. H.. Records and descriptions of Bremus and Psithyrus from Formosa and the Asiatic Mainland. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Formosa. 1934. 24. 150–185.
  4. The Bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of Taiwan, Christopher K. Starr http://web2.nmns.edu.tw/PubLib/Library/research/199205-139.pdf
  5. Web site: Map of Bombus eximius. Discover Life. The Polistes Corporation. 17 April 2015.