Taxonomy

Bombus (Pyrobombus) monticola | Mountain Bumble Bee

Distribution

Status

Conservation status

Least concern

Species Biology

Identification

  • This distinctive bee is best identified by the orange-red hairs on its abdomen (only the first segment of the abdomen is black)
  • Females have a yellow band at the top of the thorax and a thin yellow band at the base
  • Males have two yellow bands on the thorax and a yellow face
  • First recorded in Ireland in 1974
  • Currently known only from counties Antrim, Dublin, Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny & Waterford.

Habitat

Strongly associated with upland bog and heath sites. First recorded in the Dublin/Wicklow Mountains in 1974 and since spreading southwards. It was also recorded from the North in the 1980's but the only currently known populations there now are from the Antrim Coast.

Flight period

March-September

Nesting biology

Surface nesting

Flowers visited

Polylectic - Vaccinium is an important food source for queens but it also feeds on Anthyllis, Lotus, Rhododendron, Saxifraga, Silene, Cirsium, Erica, Calluna, Potentilla, Prunella, Salix

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Palaearctic region

Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024

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References

Publications

Conservation status: FitzPatrick Ú., Murray T.E., Byrne A., Paxton R.J., Brown M.J.F. (2006) Regional Red List of Irish Bees, Publ. Rep. to National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) and Environment and Heritage Service (N. Ireland). http://www.npws.ie/publications/red-lists

Flowers visited & World distribution: Westrich, P. (1989) Die Wildbienen Baden-Württembergs. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany.

Images