description Bombus ardens Overview
Bombus ardens is a bumblebee species native to East Asia and placed in the subgenus Pyrobombus. It occurs in Japan and is recognized by the warm orange or reddish coloration visible on parts of its body, although appearance varies among castes and populations. As a social bee, it forms colonies with queens and workers and visits flowering plants for nectar and pollen, thereby functioning as a wild pollinator.
help Bombus ardens FAQ
Where does Bombus ardens live?
Bombus ardens is an East Asian bumblebee recorded in Japan and Korea and placed in the subgenus Pyrobombus. ITIS lists the species as Bombus ardens Smith, 1879.
Why is Bombus ardens called the fire-tailed bumblebee?
The common name refers to warm orange or reddish coloration on part of the body. Color can differ between queens, workers, males, and regional populations, so a single photograph should not be identified by red coloring alone.
Who described Bombus ardens?
Frederick Smith described Bombus ardens in 1879, which is why the taxonomic authority is written Smith, 1879. Modern databases such as ITIS list its current taxonomic standing as valid.
Does Bombus ardens help pollinate crops in Japan?
Japan's National Agriculture and Food Research Organization reports that Bombus ardens ardens contributes significantly to Oriental persimmon pollination. It is a social bumblebee, so it forages as part of a colony rather than building the solitary brood cells made by a leafcutter bee.
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