Subgenus

Psithyrus (Cuckoo bumble bees)

Bombus insularis. Photo: (c) Liz Osborn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist • Wikipedia

Cuckoo bumblebees are members of the subgenus Psithyrus in the bumblebee genus Bombus. Until recently, the 29 species of Psithyrus were considered to constitute a separate genus. They are a specialized lineage which has lost the ability to collect pollen and to rear their brood. They have lost the worker caste and produce only sexuals, male and female. They are inquilines in the colonies of other bumblebees. Before finding and invading a host colony, a Psithyrus…

Humboldt Life
- Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
  - Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
    - Subphylum: Hexapoda (Hexapods)
      - Class: Insecta (Insects)
        Subclass: Pterygota (Winged and once-winged insects)
        Order: Hymenoptera (Ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies)
        Suborder: Apocrita (Narrow-waisted wasps, ants, and bees)
        Infraorder: Aculeata (Ants, bees, and stinging wasps)
        Superfamily: Apoidea (Bees and apoid wasps)
        Epifamily: Anthophila (Bees)
        Family: Apidae (Honey bees, bumble bees, and allies)
        Subfamily: Apinae (Apine bees)
        Tribe: Bombini
        Genus: Bombus (Bumble bees)
        Subgenus: Psithyrus (Cuckoo bumble bees)
        Species: Bombus insularis (Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee)
        Species: Bombus flavidus (Yellowish cuckoo bumble bee) (1)

Subtaxa

Species: Bombus insularis (Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee)

Species: Bombus flavidus (Yellowish cuckoo bumble bee)

Where in Humboldt

Discussion

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT PSITHYRUS, THE CUCKOO BUMBLE BEES