2. Bombus (Mendacibombus) waltoni Cockerell

(Fig. 5)

Bombus mendax ssp. chinensis Skorikov, 1910a:330 (not of Morawitz, 1890:352 = B. chinensis (Morawitz)), holotype queen ZISP examined. China: Qinghai.

Bombus waltoni Cockerell, 1910:239, holotype queen BMNH examined. Synonymised with Bombus mendax ssp. chinensis Skorikov by Skorikov in Cockerell (1911). India.

Bombus rufitarsus Friese, 1913:85, type not seen. Synonymised with Bombus waltoni Cockerell by Skorikov (1914). ‘Zentralasien’, believed incorrect.

Bombus asellus Friese, 1924:438, type not seen. Regarded as conspecific with Bombus waltoni Cockerell by Bischoff (1936). ‘ Mongolei bei Tippeti’, believed incorrect.

Material examined. 33 workers 1 male (IAB).

Distribution in Gansu. Common at high altitudes of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in the southwest and northwestern Qilianshan mountains, rare at medium altitudes of the western mountains (Fig. 5); 6 localities between 2604 and 3524 m (IAB).

Distribution in China. Gansu, Qinghai (IAB).

Forage plants. ALLIACEAE: Allium cyaneum; ASTERACEAE: Carduus crispus, Olgaea tangutica, Saussurea sp.; GERANIACEAE: Geranium pratense; LAMIACEAE: Salvia przewalskii; SCROPHULARIACEAE: Pedicularis kansuensis, Pedicularis sp.