Bombus californicus

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]

Bombus californicus
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Apidae
Tribe:	Bombini
Genus:	Bombus
Subgenus:	Thoracobombus
Species:	B. californicus
Binomial name
Bombus californicus Smith, 1854
Synonyms
Bombus dubius Cresson, 1863 Bombus consanguineus Handlirsch, 1888 Bombus neglectulus Ashmead, 1902

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]