White-shouldered Bumble Bee
Bombus appositus
This record describes Bombus appositus (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to Bombus borealis but in appositus the anterior of the scutum is usually noticeably paler than the posterio of the scutum. Unlike fervidus the facial hairs are extensively yellow. Beware of worn centralis in which T3-T4 can appear yellowish rather than red.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Apidae (Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble, and Honey Bees)
- Subfamily
- Apinae
- Tribe
- Bombini
- Genus
- Bombus (Bumble Bees)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Includes mountain meadows and slopes
Geographic Range
Western mountains, typically at higher elevations, at least in the southern part of its range. Disjunct records from southern Arizona mapped as unverified data in the Williams et al. guide were long ago established to be definitely erroneous by R. W. Thorp.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus appositus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of White-shouldered Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joe, Entomologist (in training); Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , John S. Ascher
Frequently Asked Questions About White-shouldered Bumble Bee
What is White-shouldered Bumble Bee?
White-shouldered Bumble Bee (Bombus appositus) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is White-shouldered Bumble Bee?
Large
How do you identify White-shouldered Bumble Bee?
Similar to Bombus borealis but in appositus the anterior of the scutum is usually noticeably paler than the posterio of the scutum. Unlike fervidus the facial hairs are extensively yellow. Beware of worn centralis in which T3-T4 can appear yellowish rather than red.
Where is White-shouldered Bumble Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Includes mountain meadows and slopes |
| Range | Western mountains, typically at higher elevations, at least in the southern part of its range. Disjunct records from southern Arizona mapped as unverified data in the Williams et al. guide were long ago established to be definitely erroneous by R. W. Thorp. |
What does White-shouldered Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the White-shouldered Bumble Bee includes The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..