Bombus pullatus
Bombus pullatus | |
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Bombus pullatus foraging from a pink flower | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Apidae |
Genus: | Bombus |
Subgenus: | Thoracobombus
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Species: | B. pullatus
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Binomial name | |
Bombus pullatus Franklin, 1913
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Bombus pullatus is a tropical,
. Unlike many bumblebee species, they live in colonies with multiple queens.Distribution & Taxonomy
The majority of this species occurs in the lowlands of Central America, with approximately 90% of colonies being found in Costa Rica.[1] However they have been found at elevations higher than 3 km above sea level.[2] Colonies have been confirmed in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the south of Mexico.
Bombus pullatus is considered a more basal member of the genus
Behaviour
This species is known to be quite aggressive, stinging humans within approximately 6 m of the nest if it is disturbed.[4]
Unlike most
Nesting
Their nests are mostly found on the ground, anchored to sturdy plants. This is thought to protect them from tropical storms. Much like their close relative Bombus pauloensis, their colonies display a degree of perenniality.[1] One old nest was observed to contain both the bee colony and a colony of the leafcutter ant Acromyrmex octospinosus, which was occupying cells along the edge that had been abandoned by the bee. This bee can be rare in parts of its range with wet tropical climates because it is difficult to find a suitable dry nesting site and maintain it in such moist conditions.[4] Their colonies are thought to consist of approximately 300 workers, however this is based on only counts from two individual nests.[3] One nest was discovered 5.5 m above the ground, indicating that this species is not purely ground-nesting. This nest also appeared to be the second nest site of this colony as old worker cells were absent in it. This indicated that the colony was not sedentary unlike bumblebees in temperate regions.[4]
References