Bombus (Megabombus) sushkini (Skorikov)

An, Jiandong, Huang, Jiaxing, Shao, Youquan, Zhang, Shiwen, Wang, Biao, Liu, Xinyu, Wu, Jie & Williams, Paul H., 2014, The bumblebees of North China (Apidae, Bombus Latreille), Zootaxa 3830 (1), pp. 1-89 : 31

16. Bombus (Megabombus) sushkini (Skorikov) s. l.

( Figs 34, 35 )

Hortobombus sushkini Skorikov, 1931:235 .

Taxonomy. For a discussion of the taxonomy of this species see Williams et al. (2009).

Material examined. 19 queens, 47 workers, 7 males (IAB).

Distribution in North China. Primarily on the edge of the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Common at medium to high elevations of the Qilianshan nature reserve and the Lianhuashan nature reserve in Gansu. Rare at medium elevations of the Liancheng nature reserve, at high elevations of the Gahai nature reserve in Gansu, and at medium elevations of the Yueliangshan mountain in Xiji, Ningxia. 22 localities ( Fig. 34 ) between 2148–3490 m (IAB).

Similar species in North China. This species is similar in its yellow-banded colour pattern to B. religiosus and B. czerskii (see the key; Figs 31 , 33 , 35 ).

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

Forage plants. ASTERACEAE : Arctium lappa , Saussurea sp.; FABACEAE : Oxytropis ochrocephala ; LAMIACEAE : Caryopteris incana , Dracocephalum heterophyllum ; RANUNCULACEAE : Aconitum flavum , A. gymnandrum , Clematis tangutica ; SCROPHULARIACEAE : Pedicularis kansuensis .

Figures

FIGURES 34 – 35. 34. Map showing the distribution of B. sushkini s. l. in North China with records as black spots, the province boundaries in dark grey, and all sites with records of all bumblebee species in light grey. 35. B. sushkini s. l. male visiting Pedicularis kansuensis (Scrophulariaceae) in Gansu.

FIGURES 30 – 31. 30. Map showing the distribution of B. religiosus in North China with records as black spots, the province boundaries in dark grey, and all sites with records of all bumblebee species in light grey. 31. B. religiosus worker from Gansu.

FIGURES 32 – 33. 32. Map showing the distribution of B. czerskii in North China with records as black spots, the province boundaries in dark grey, and all sites with records of all bumblebee species in light grey. 33. B. czerskii worker from Neimenggu.