47. Bombus (Melanobombus) ladakhensis Richards

(Fig. 50)

Bombus (Lapidariobombus) rufofasciatus var. ladakhensis Richards, 1928:336, not infrasubspecific after Tkalců, 1974b:335, holotype queen BMNH examined. India.

Bombus (Lapidariobombus) rufofasciatus var. phariensis Richards, 1930:642, not infrasubspecific after Tkalců, 1974b:336, holotype queen BMNH examined. Regarded as conspecific with Pyrobombus ladakhensis (Richards) by Tkalců (1974b). China: Xizang.

Bombus variopictus Skorikov, 1933a:248, syntype queen ZISP examined. Regarded as conspecific with Pyrobombus ladakhensis (Richards) by Tkalců (1974b). China: Qinghai.

Bombus (Pratobombus) reticulatus Bischoff, 1936:7, paralectotype workers (Tkalců, 1974b:336) MNHU examined. Regarded as conspecific with Pyrobombus ladakhensis (Richards) by Tkalců (1974b). China: Gansu.

Material examined. 22 workers (IAB).

Distribution in Gansu. Common at medium to high elevations of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in the southwest and northwestern Qilianshan mountains (Fig. 50); 4 localities between 2524 and 4011 m (IAB).

Distribution in China. Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai (IAB).

Forage plants. ASTERACEAE: Saussurea purpurascens, S. stella; LAMIACEAE: Caryopteris incana; POLYGO- NACEAE: Polygonum macrophyllum; SCROPHULARIACEAE: Pedicularis kansuensis .