Bombus pensylvanicus

Bombus pensylvanicus
Queen in Hanover County, VA
Male in Illinois, US
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Subgenus: Thoracobombus
Species:
B. pensylvanicus
Binomial name
Bombus pensylvanicus
(De Geer, 1773) [2]
The general range of Bombus pensylvanicus. (Dashed line indicates former range)
Synonyms
  • Apis pensylvanica De Geer, 1773
  • Apis americanorum Fabricius, 1775
  • Apis antiguensis Fabricius, 1775
  • Apis nidulans Fabricius, 1793
  • Bombus pallidus Cresson, 1863
  • Bombus pennsylvanicus Cresson, 1863 (Emend.)
  • Psithyrus cevalliae Cockerell, 1899
  • Bombus americana Howard, 1901 (Missp.)
  • Bombus titusi Ashmead, 1902
  • Bombus pennsylvanicus v. umbratus Friese, 1931

Bombus pensylvanicus, the American bumblebee, is a threatened species of bumblebee native to North America. It occurs in eastern Canada, throughout much of the Eastern United States, and much of Mexico.[1]

Once the most prevalent bumblebee in the southern United States, populations of Bombus pensylvanicus have decreased significantly in recent years,[3] including in its scientific namesake state of Pennsylvania, where its numbers are considered critically low.[4] Overall, the population dropped nearly 90% in just the first two decades of the 21st century.[5]

Bombus pensylvanicus tends to live and nest in open farmland and fields. It feeds on several food plants, favoring sunflowers and clovers,[6] and functions as a pollinator.

  1. ^ a b Hatfield, R., et al. 2015. Bombus pensylvanicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 09 March 2016.
  2. ^ Bombus pensylvanicus. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference bugguide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Adams2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Turner2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Williams, Paul H.; Thorp, Robbin W.; Richardson, Leif L.; Colla, Sheila R. (2014). Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide. Princeton Field Guides. Princeton University Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-691-15222-6. LCCN 2013945435.