| Broken-belted bumblebee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| subsp.soroeensis | |
 | |
| subsp.proteus | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Genus: | Bombus |
| Subgenus: | Kallobombus |
| Species: | B. soroeensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Bombus soroeensis | |
Thebroken-belted bumblebee orIlfracombe bumblebee (Bombus soroeensis) is a species ofbumblebee[1] present in most of Europe and parts of Asia.[2]
This relatively small bumblebee has a rather oblong face and aproboscis of medium length. The body of the female is black with two yellow bands, one at the collar, one at the secondtergite (abdominal segment). The latter often has black hair in the middle, thus dividing it into two. In males, the yellow abdominal band is broader, and usually covers most of the first tergite, as well as the second. On both sexes, the tail is white, often mixed with orange-yellow hairs. On the northernScottish form, the female usually has an entirely white tail.Melanic forms can be found on the European continent.[3] The bee reaches an average length of 16 mm (0.63 in) (queen, wingspan 30 mm (1.2 in)[3]), 12 mm (0.47 in) (worker), and 13 mm (0.51 in) (male).[4]
The nest, which at most has about 80 to 150 workers, is usually underground. At least inBritain, the bumblebee seems to favour uplands, heaths, and grasslands. Favourite flowers areclovers,ling,harebell andScabiosa asbird's-foot trefoils.[3][5]
In Eurasia, this bumblebee is present from 70ºN inScandinavia and 65ºN inSiberia in the north to theAlps, thePyrenees, theSierra de Ancares (Spain) and theBalkans[6] in the south. In the west, its distribution reaches theBritish mainland (includingSkye and some minor Scottish islands, but excludingIreland and the major Scottish islands), while in the east it extends toLake Baykal in central Siberia,Mongolia, and, in the south-east,Anatolia and the northernIranian mountains.[2] In southern Britain, it has declined considerably since around 1960 and is now confined to spotty occurrences in westWales,Cornwall with adjoining counties, northernEngland,Scotland, and an isolated location inKent.[3][7]
