Bombus pomorum explained

The apple humble-bee or apple bumblebee (Bombus pomorum) is a species of bumblebee.

Description

This bumblebee is black with a red tail, an oblong head, and a long proboscis. The male has pale hairs on the collar, scutellum, and first tergite (abdominal segment).[1] The queen has a body length between 20mm22mm, the worker around 14mm, and the male 15mm.[2]

Distribution

The apple humble-bee is found in western and central Europe and western Turkey, from northern France to the Perm region in Russia, but it is declining and once had a much wider distribution.[3] It was once present in the United Kingdom and was found once in Kent recently, but it is doubtful it is still established there.

Ecology

This species is mainly found in wood-edges and open fields. The Turkish subspecies B. p. canus, however, lives on more or less alpine steppes at altitudes between 1600mand3500mm (5,200feetand11,500feetm).[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Benton, Ted . Bumblebees . HarperCollins Publishers . London, UK . 2006 . 529–530 . Appendix 1: Species Considered Extinct in Britain . 0007174519.
  2. Web site: Obsthummel – Bombus pomorum . 2 February 2013 . German . Wildbienen.
  3. Web site: Bombus (Thoracobombus) pomorum (Panzer, 1805) . Pierre Rasmont . 2 February 2013 . Université de Mons.
  4. Web site: Bombus (Thoracobombus) pomorum (Panzer, 1805) . Pierre Rasmont . 4 February 2013 . Atlas Hymenoptera – Bombus of Turkey . Université de Mons.