Bombus pyrenaeus is a species of bumblebee. It is native to Europe, where it occurs in Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine.Rasmont, P., et al. 2015. Bombus pyrenaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 March 2016.Bombus pyrenaeus. Fauna Europaea. Its German-language common name is Pyrenäenhummel. Bombus pyrenaeus. Wildbienen.de It is a common species, becoming abundant in some areas.
Description Bombus pyrenaeus can reach a length of , with a wingspan of . It has a wide yellow-gray transverse band on the collar, a grayish-yellow transverse band on the scutellum and a third gray yellow transverse fascia between the 1st and 2nd tergites.
There are several different subspecies separated among mountain ranges: B. p. afasciatus – Tatra Mountains B. p. balcanicus – Carpathians and Balkans B. p. pyrenaeus – Pyrenees B. p. tenuifasciatus – Alps
Biology This is a species of alpine climates in high mountain ranges. It feeds on many kinds of plants, but it favors Crocus vernus, thistles, and bilberries.Celary, W., Fijal, J., & Kosior, A. (2002). Bombus pyrenaeus Pérez, 1879 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Apidae) in Poland. Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 45(3) 207-11.
References