Bombus pauloensis

Bombus pauloensis
Córdoba, Argentina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Subgenus: Thoracobombus
Species:
B. pauloensis
Binomial name
Bombus pauloensis
Friese, 1913
Distribution of Bombus pauloensis
Synonyms
  • Apis azurea Christ, 1791 (dubious)
  • Bombus (Bombus) atratus Franklin, 1913 (Preocc.)
  • Bombus cayennensis v. pauloensis Friese, 1913
  • Bombus cayennensis v. nigriventris Friese, 1913
  • Bremus atratus v. alternans Frison, 1925
  • Bremus atratus v. annulatus Frison, 1925
  • Bremus niger v. signatus Frison, 1925
  • Bombus cayennensis v. albidoanalis Friese, 1931
  • Bombus cayennensis v. buchwaldi Friese, 1931
  • Bombus cayennensis v. draenerti Friese, 1931
  • Bombus cayennensis v. jundiahyensis Friese, 1931
  • Bombus cayennensis v. paufer Friese, 1931
  • Bombus cayennensis v. uberabensis Friese, 1931
  • Bombus thoracicus v. umbricollis Friese, 1931

Bombus pauloensis is a neotropical bumblebee, formerly known as Bombus atratus, that is found throughout regions of South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Argentina. It lives in social colonies that include a founder queen/queens, workers and brood. B. pauloensis is somewhat unusual because of its potential to oscillate between polygynous (multiple queens) and monogynous (one queen) nesting cycles.[1] Bombus pauloensis was the first species in the genus Bombus that was discovered to display such polygynous nesting patterns.[1] The polygynous nesting cycles lead to certain specific types of behavior including queen-queen aggression.[2] Nests can also be perennial, which is a characteristic rarely found in other bumblebees. B. pauloensis can be helpful to agricultural because of their ability to pollinate different species of plants. B. pauloensis has been found to occupy a range of geographic areas and climates throughout South America.[3] Colonies have the ability to thermoregulate nests and keep them a little bit warmer than the outside environment. Foraging workers use muscle contractions to maintain stable temperatures and coupe with seasonal and daily fluctuations in temperature.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Gonzalez, Victor; Rasmussen, Claus (January 2001). "Ecology and nesting behavior of Bombus atratus Franklin in Andean Highlands (Hymenoptera: Apidae)". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 13 (2): 234–242. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference three was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Almanza Fandiño, Maria Teresa (2007). "Management of Bombus atratus bumblebees to pollinate Lulo". Ecology and Development Series. 50: 50–63. ISBN 9783867271875. Retrieved 26 September 2015.