Bombus californicus, the California bumble bee, is a species of bumble bee in the family Apidae. Bombus californicus is in the subgenus Thoracobombus.[1] It is found in Central America and the western half of North America.[2][3][4]Bombus californicus is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.[5]
In a 2015 study, Bombus californicus was found to be endangered in 62% of surveyed areas.[6]
Bombus californicus can exhibit multiple possible color patterns of yellow and black, as in its sister species Bombus fervidus, and in many areas of geographic overlap, at least a small percentage of individuals of the two species cannot be recognized except by genetic analysis, as each species can sometimes display the color pattern typical of the other.[1] The "typical" color pattern of female californicus is black with only a single strong yellow band anteriorly on the thorax, and another single yellow band near the apex of the abdomen; males exhibit considerably more variation.[1]
Bombus californicus nests in the ground,[7] in wooded areas,[1] and in urban areas.[8] Queens emerge from April through the middle of July.[9] Workers are present from April to September.[9] Males (drones) are present late May through September.[9] This type of bumblebee pollinates sage,[10] blueberry bushes, red clover,[7]California poppies,[4] and many other species of flowers.[11]
^Wray, Julie C.; Elle, Elizabeth (26 November 2014). "Flowering phenology and nesting resources influence pollinator community composition in a fragmented ecosystem". Landscape Ecology. 30 (2): 261–272. doi:10.1007/s10980-014-0121-0. S2CID16394577.
