Other Common Names
Often cited as Black and Gold Bumble Bee, but use of a hyphen is generally preferred when citing common names (see AOU and BOU bird checklists, e.g., Black-and-white Warbler).
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Bombus nevadensis is treated as conspecific with B. auricomus by some sources, and as a separate species by other sources; most recent sources treat them separately - see link to taxonomic discussion in Internet References section below
Explanation of Names
auricomus means "with golden hair"
Size
queen: body length 20-25 mm
male: 17-20 mm
worker: 18-20 mm
Identification
Muellerian mimic of the American Bumble Bee
Note the following:
- ocelli low on face
- yellow hairs on vertex
- yellow hairs on scutellum (thin yellow posterior thoracic band)
- with more yellow on scutellum and more black on T1 than pensylvanicus
See detailed descriptions at
discoverlife.orgInternet References
taxonomic status discussion of
auricomus and
nevadensis (Paul Williams, Natural History Museum, UK)
color diagrams of
nevadensis and
auricomus (Natural History Museum, UK)
common name reference; PDF doc (Committee on Common Names of Insects, Entomological Society of America)
