Bombus rupestris

Bombus rupestris is a species of cuckoo bumblebee present in most of Europe except Iceland. In the Balkans it is found in montane and alpine habitats northwards from Central Greece.^[2][3] It is also found in Turkey.^[3]

Bombus rupestris
Male
Female
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Apidae
Genus:	Bombus
Subgenus:	Psithyrus
Species:	B. rupestris
Binomial name
Bombus rupestris (Fabricius, 1793)
Synonyms
Apathus rupestris (Fabricius, 1793) Apis albinella Kirby, 1802 Apis arenaris Panzer, 1801 Apis frutetorum Panzer, 1801 Apis rupestris Fabricius, 1793 Bombus obscurus Seidl, 1838 Bombus rupestris orientanus Reinig, 1931 Bombus rupestris siculus Reinig, 1931 Psithyrus rupestris (Fabricius, 1793)[1]

Description

The female is much larger than the male; she has a length of 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in), while the drone usually is not more than 16 mm (0.63 in).^[4] The bumblebee is black, with the last abdominal segments coloured orange-red.^[5]

Due to its parasitic lifestyle, no workers exist.

Behaviour

Bombus rupestris is found in flower-rich habitats, such as meadows and along hedgerows.^[4] The bumblebee parasitizes the nests of the red-tailed bumblebee, B. lapidarius.^[5]