Golden-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus kirbiellus
This record describes Bombus kirbiellus (species). Recorded family: Apidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Female color pattern as in Bombus frigidus, with golden-tan hairs on the thorax and T1-T2, scutum with well-defined black interalar band, and tail tip extensively bright red-orange. Unlike B. frigidus hairs of the head including vertex are black. In both sexes the very long face, and malar space, and long, shaggy coat are distinctive. In the high arctic must be carefully separated from other members of this subgenus.
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
Arctic and alpine tundra
Geographic Range
High latitudes and altitudes. In the lower 48 states best known from the high Rockies, such as Rocky Mountain NP of Colorado, but also occurs very locally in the high Sierra of California (e.g., at and above Sonora Pass).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: A long-tongued species that can visit specialized arctic and alpine flowers with long corolla tubes. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Bombus kirbiellus. 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 Golden-belted Bumble Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John S. Ascher; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Frequently Asked Questions About Golden-belted Bumble Bee
What is Golden-belted Bumble Bee?
Golden-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus kirbiellus) is a species in the family Apidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Golden-belted Bumble Bee?
large
How do you identify Golden-belted Bumble Bee?
Female color pattern as in Bombus frigidus, with golden-tan hairs on the thorax and T1-T2, scutum with well-defined black interalar band, and tail tip extensively bright red-orange. Unlike B. frigidus hairs of the head including vertex are black. In both sexes the very long face, and malar space, and long, shaggy coat are distinctive. In the high arctic must be carefully separated from other members of this subgenus.
Where is Golden-belted Bumble Bee found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arctic and alpine tundra |
| Range | High latitudes and altitudes. In the lower 48 states best known from the high Rockies, such as Rocky Mountain NP of Colorado, but also occurs very locally in the high Sierra of California (e.g., at and above Sonora Pass). |
What does Golden-belted Bumble Bee eat?
The diet of the Golden-belted Bumble Bee includes A long-tongued species that can visit specialized arctic and alpine flowers with long corolla tubes. The Hosts section of its Discover Life species page lists known associations based on specimen records and images..