Taxonomy and ecology of Bombus trifasciatus Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Megabombus) from Indian Himalaya with description of new variants

Abstract

Bombus trifasciatus Smith 1852 is very variable in colour pattern. Queens differ in colour of abdominal tergum 3 with yellow and black; while workers have abdominal tergum 3 yellow and brick red; lateral aspects of thorax are white in some individuals. Due emphasis has been laid on its detailed taxonomic descriptions, food plants, population variation, synonymy, distribution pattern and illustration. Many new food plants of this species have been recorded for the first time from the area under study.