Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Bombus dahlbomii
Bombus dahlbomii, also known as the moscardón, is a species of bumblebee endemic to southern South American temperate forests. B. dahlbomii is one of the largest bee species in the world, with matured queens growing up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long. Because of its size and furry appearance, the species has been described as "flying mice" colloquially, and "a monstrous fluffy ginger beast" by British ecologist David Goulson.
B. dahlbomii is native to southern Chile and southern Argentina, including Patagonia. The decline of its populations started with the introduction of Bombus terrestris and B. ruderatus into Chile to serve as commercial pollinators. B. dahlbomii population decline can also be attributed to the pathogen spillover of the parasitic protozoan Apicystis bombi, which was co-introduced with B. terrestris.
B. dahlbomii is an important insect in local ecosystems, such as the Maulino forest of central Chile. There, it is a major pollinator of native plants such as Lapageria rosea and Alstroemeria aurea, both of which serve important commercial purposes.
The species was originally described in 1835 by the French entomologist Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville.
B. dahlbomii is predominantly red-orange in color. The thorax of the bee is completely red-orange while the abdomen is generally a lighter shade of orange with a small amount of lightening/discoloration towards the end. Like most bumblebees, the abdomen of the bee has a rounded tip. The head, wing and leg region of B. dahlbomii are distinctly black in color. B. dahlbomii has relatively short antennae and a distinct forewing and smaller hindwing that are usually tucked in above the main thorax area (they lie almost flat). Relatively long bristles cover almost the whole thorax and abdomen of B. dahlbomii, giving the bumblebee an extremely furry appearance. The leg and head regions are covered by shorter bristles than the thorax and abdomen. B. dahlbomii queens usually have relatively heavy body masses of around 0.5-1.5 grams and large head-to-tail lengths of up to 4 cm. These measurements make B. dahlbomii one of the largest bumblebees in the world and give it the nickname the "flying mouse".
B. dahlbomii is the only native bumblebee species in southern South America. Its range extends from 30 degrees southwards to the southern tip of mainland South America. It is endemic to temperate forest regions in central/southern Patagonia. B. dahlbomii is distributed throughout Patagonia, where it coexists with two non-native species that belong to the same genus, Bombus terrestris and Bombus ruderatus. In its distribution in Chile and Argentina, including Patagonia, B. dahlbomii occupies forest environments that have both continuous and fragmented (scattered) distribution of plants, flowers and other resources. Individuals in these two environments have slightly different morphological and behavioral features. Although some reports cite B. dahlbomii outside of southern South America, they fail to substantiate their findings; when compared to other South American bumblebees, B. dahlbomii's range is relatively confined.
Individual B. dahlbomii queens usually start colonies in the spring by first locating underground cavities, such as rodent burrows. Like many other species in the genus Bombus, the B. dahlbomii colony cycle begins with the production of the egg cell structure inside the underground cavity. This egg cell structure is constructed from a mixture of pollen and wax that the queen forages from the outside environment and brings to the nest site. Eventually, the queen lays her first brood of eggs in this egg cell structure. After a couple of months, in early summer or late spring, this initial brood produces the first B. dahlbomii workers that take over foraging responsibilities from the queen. Males and new queens are subsequently produced to allow the continuation of the colony cycle. The initial period during which the B. dahlbomii queen is alone without workers is referred to as the subsocial phase. The social phase starts when the initial eggs mature into workers that can begin basic foraging activities. Field studies indicate that B. dahlbomii nests can host populations of upwards of 100 workers.
B. dahlbomii queens initiate colonies. Queens forage for nectar and pollen that are used to feed the initial brood of a new colony nest site. The foraging activity of queens usually stops once the first brood develops into fully mature workers that can forage to feed immature siblings and alleviate the queen's need to perform such duties. After this happens, the queen assumes her main role of laying and incubating the brood eggs to further propagate the colony and produce new workers. Once workers begin foraging activities, B. dahlbomii queens seem to venture out of nests less frequently, but are still found in the outside of nests quite often.
Hub AI
Bombus dahlbomii AI simulator
(@Bombus dahlbomii_simulator)
Bombus dahlbomii
Bombus dahlbomii, also known as the moscardón, is a species of bumblebee endemic to southern South American temperate forests. B. dahlbomii is one of the largest bee species in the world, with matured queens growing up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long. Because of its size and furry appearance, the species has been described as "flying mice" colloquially, and "a monstrous fluffy ginger beast" by British ecologist David Goulson.
B. dahlbomii is native to southern Chile and southern Argentina, including Patagonia. The decline of its populations started with the introduction of Bombus terrestris and B. ruderatus into Chile to serve as commercial pollinators. B. dahlbomii population decline can also be attributed to the pathogen spillover of the parasitic protozoan Apicystis bombi, which was co-introduced with B. terrestris.
B. dahlbomii is an important insect in local ecosystems, such as the Maulino forest of central Chile. There, it is a major pollinator of native plants such as Lapageria rosea and Alstroemeria aurea, both of which serve important commercial purposes.
The species was originally described in 1835 by the French entomologist Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville.
B. dahlbomii is predominantly red-orange in color. The thorax of the bee is completely red-orange while the abdomen is generally a lighter shade of orange with a small amount of lightening/discoloration towards the end. Like most bumblebees, the abdomen of the bee has a rounded tip. The head, wing and leg region of B. dahlbomii are distinctly black in color. B. dahlbomii has relatively short antennae and a distinct forewing and smaller hindwing that are usually tucked in above the main thorax area (they lie almost flat). Relatively long bristles cover almost the whole thorax and abdomen of B. dahlbomii, giving the bumblebee an extremely furry appearance. The leg and head regions are covered by shorter bristles than the thorax and abdomen. B. dahlbomii queens usually have relatively heavy body masses of around 0.5-1.5 grams and large head-to-tail lengths of up to 4 cm. These measurements make B. dahlbomii one of the largest bumblebees in the world and give it the nickname the "flying mouse".
B. dahlbomii is the only native bumblebee species in southern South America. Its range extends from 30 degrees southwards to the southern tip of mainland South America. It is endemic to temperate forest regions in central/southern Patagonia. B. dahlbomii is distributed throughout Patagonia, where it coexists with two non-native species that belong to the same genus, Bombus terrestris and Bombus ruderatus. In its distribution in Chile and Argentina, including Patagonia, B. dahlbomii occupies forest environments that have both continuous and fragmented (scattered) distribution of plants, flowers and other resources. Individuals in these two environments have slightly different morphological and behavioral features. Although some reports cite B. dahlbomii outside of southern South America, they fail to substantiate their findings; when compared to other South American bumblebees, B. dahlbomii's range is relatively confined.
Individual B. dahlbomii queens usually start colonies in the spring by first locating underground cavities, such as rodent burrows. Like many other species in the genus Bombus, the B. dahlbomii colony cycle begins with the production of the egg cell structure inside the underground cavity. This egg cell structure is constructed from a mixture of pollen and wax that the queen forages from the outside environment and brings to the nest site. Eventually, the queen lays her first brood of eggs in this egg cell structure. After a couple of months, in early summer or late spring, this initial brood produces the first B. dahlbomii workers that take over foraging responsibilities from the queen. Males and new queens are subsequently produced to allow the continuation of the colony cycle. The initial period during which the B. dahlbomii queen is alone without workers is referred to as the subsocial phase. The social phase starts when the initial eggs mature into workers that can begin basic foraging activities. Field studies indicate that B. dahlbomii nests can host populations of upwards of 100 workers.
B. dahlbomii queens initiate colonies. Queens forage for nectar and pollen that are used to feed the initial brood of a new colony nest site. The foraging activity of queens usually stops once the first brood develops into fully mature workers that can forage to feed immature siblings and alleviate the queen's need to perform such duties. After this happens, the queen assumes her main role of laying and incubating the brood eggs to further propagate the colony and produce new workers. Once workers begin foraging activities, B. dahlbomii queens seem to venture out of nests less frequently, but are still found in the outside of nests quite often.