Bombus appositus

Bombus appositus is highly notable for its exceptionally long tongue, which is uniquely adapted for foraging on deep flowers. This specialized tongue allows it to extract nectar from tubular flora that other bees with shorter tongues cannot access.

Bombus appositus was officially described by the American entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1878. Cresson was a prominent figure in the 19th century who identified many species of North American Hymenoptera.

Because of its remarkably long tongue, Bombus appositus prefers to forage on plants with long, tubular corolla tubes. It is frequently observed visiting flowers like monkshood (Aconitum) and larkspur (Delphinium) in mountainous regions.

This North American bumblebee species is primarily found in the mountainous regions of the western United States. It thrives in high-altitude environments, such as the meadows of the Rocky Mountains, where its preferred deep-flowered plants grow.