Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Bombus auricomus of eastern North America has often been considered a subspecies. A putative subspecies miguelensis is of uncertain status.
Explanation of Names
Author: Cresson, 1874. The name refers to the type locality.
Identification
Females resemble Bombus morrisoni but usually has fewer yellow hairs on the vertex, a conspicuous spot in the middle of the scutum (formed by a bare area and also black hairs), and a darker hue to the yellow coat.
Range
Western North America especially in mountains. Eastern records pertain to Bombus auricomus, surely including most if not all mapped from far east of the Rocky Mountains in the Williams et al. guide.
Recorded from Western Canada (MB;SK;AB;BC;YT), from southern Alaska, and from The following US states: SD;NE;MT;WY;CO;NM;UT;AZ;ID;NV;WA;OR;CA). Putative subspecies miguelensis described from San Miguel Island off southern California is a disjunct and enigmatic occurrence. Distributional summary by John S. Ascher (Mar 2014).
Habitat
Includes mountain meadows
Food
Hosts include many Fabaceae. The Hosts section of its
Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
