71. Bombus (Melanobombus) rufofasciatus Smith

(Figs 144, 145)

Bombus rufo-fasciatus Smith, 1852b:48.

Bombus Prshewalskyi Morawitz, 1880:342 .

Bombus rufocinctus Morawitz, 1880:343 (not of Cresson, 1863:106 = B. rufocinctus Cresson).

Bombus chinensis Dalla Torre, 1890 [June 25]:139, replacement name for rufocinctus Morawitz, 1880:343 (not of Morawitz, 1890 [April 30]:352 = B. chinensis (Morawitz)) .

Material examined. 3 queens, 287 workers, 93 males (IAB).

Distribution in North China. Only on the edge of the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in Gansu. Abundant at high elevations of the Zhagana nature reserve in Diebu, and at medium to high elevations of the Qilianshan nature reserve in Tianzhu. Common at medium to high elevations of the Qilianshan nature reserve in Jiuquan, Minle, Sunan and Yongchang, and at high elevations of the east Qinghai-Tibetan plateau meadows in Xiahe, Luqu, Lintan and Zhuoni. Rare at medium elevations of the Xinglongshan nature reserve in Yuzhong. 37 localities (Fig. 144) between 1776–4011 m (IAB).

Similar species in North China. This species is similar in its white- and yellow-banded colour pattern to B. lemniscatus (see the key; Figs 103, 145).

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

Forage plants. ALLIACEAE: Allium cyaneum; ASTERACEAE: Artemisia lancea, Carduus acanthoides, Carpesium sp., Cirsium japonicum, Filifolium sibiricum, Ligularia przewalskii, Olgaea tangutica, Saussurea leucoma, S. purpurascens, S. stella ? Saussurea sp., Taraxacum mongolicum; CRASSULACEAE: Phedimus sp.; FABACEAE: Hedysarum gmelinii, Oxytropis sp.; GENTIANACEAE: Comastoma pulmonarium, Gentiana aristata, G. macrophylla, G. straminea, Halenia elliptica; GERANIACEAE: Geranium pratense; LAMIACEAE: Dracocephalum heterophyllum, Salvia przewalskii, Salvia sp., Thymus mongolicus; POLYGONACEAE: Polygonum macrophyllum, P. viviparum; RANUNCULACEAE: Aconitum flavum, A. gymnandrum, Clematis tangutica, Delphinium grandiflorum; ROSACEAE: Potentilla fruticosa; SCROPHULARIACEAE: Euphrasia pectinata, Pedicularis kansuensis, P. t o r t a, P. spicata, Pedicularis sp., Pseudolysimachion sp.