| Bombus bifarius | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Bombus |
| Subgenus: | Pyrobombus |
| Species: | B. bifarius
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bombus bifarius | |
Bombus bifarius, the two-form bumblebee, is a species of eusocial bumblebee of the subgenus Pyrobombus. B. bifarius inhabits mountainous regions of western North America, primarily the states of Colorado and Utah. Its common name refers to a historical artifact, in that it was believed that this species had a color polymorphism, with a red-tailed nominate form and a black-tailed nearcticus form, present in the species.[1] This polymorphism has recently been shown to belong instead to a cryptic sister species, Bombus vancouverensis, that occupies almost the entirety of the range of what was formerly classified as bifarius; true bifarius only has a red form, so it is not "two-formed" at all.[3]
- ^ a b Hatfield, R.; Jepsen, S.; Thorp, R.; Richardson, L.; Colla, S. (2014). "Bombus bifarius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T44937707A68999754. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T44937707A68999754.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Cresson, E.T. (1878). "Descriptions of New Species of North American Bees". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: 181–221.
- ^ Ghisbain, G., J. D. Lozier, S. R. Rahman, B. D. Ezray, L. Tian et al. (2020) Substantial genetic divergence and lack of recent gene flow support cryptic speciation in a colour polymorphic bumble bee (Bombus bifarius) species complex. Syst. Entomol. 45: 635–652. doi:10.1111/syen.12419