# Pyrobombus > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pyrobombus > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pyrobombus.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrobombus > Source revision: 1354639811 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Subgenus of bumblebees ***Pyrobombus*** (known as **fiery-tailed bees**) is a [subgenus](/source/Subgenus) of [bumblebees](/source/Bumblebee), with [centres of diversity](/source/Center_of_diversity) in [Central Asia](/source/Central_Asia) and [North America](/source/North_America).[1] Nearly a fifth of all *Bombus* species fall within *Pyrobombus*.[2] *Pyrobombus* bees face issues such as [climate change](/source/Climate_change), habitat loss, urbanization, and industrial agriculture.[3] They can be used for [beekeeping](/source/Beekeeping) as they are pollinators, and can be used for wax, honey, venom, and combs.[4] Pyrobombus Bombus pratorum Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Clade: Pancrustacea Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Apidae Genus: Bombus Subgenus: Pyrobombus Dalla Torre, 1880 [1][2] Type species Bombus hypnorum Linnaeus, 1758 ## Morphology *Pyrobombus* bees are fairly small. The [subgenus](/source/Subgenus) is the largest by number of species in [*Bombus*](/source/Bumblebee) and the most diverse in [morphology](/source/Morphology_(biology)). Species vary in characteristics such as tongue length, head shape, mouth parts, and wingspan. The coat colour is similar to bees in other subgenera, with black, yellow, and orange patterns; some species can have white patches or stripes. Like all bees, *Pyrobombus* have translucent wings that can be clear or tinted black, brown, or amber. ## Phylogeny Studies have disagreed on whether *Pyrobombus* is [monophyletic](/source/Monophyly).[2] Hines, Cameron, and Williams (2006) concluded that *Pyrobombus* was monophyletic based on an analysis of 36 of the 43 recognized species.[2] Other studies have supported that *Pyrobombus* is [paraphyletic](/source/Paraphyletic) and suggest the *Pyrobombus* belong in two different [phyletic](/source/Phylogenetics) lines.[5] Plowright and Stephen (1973) examined 18 different enzymes and found the taxon sample had close relationships with *B. jonellus* and *B. frigidus*.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Their study aligned with other independent researchers.[6] ## Habitat and nesting Underground bee nest *Pyrobombus* commonly nest underground. Nest entrances are not elaborate. Generally, plant material is collected and accumulated around and in the nest canal for camouflage. This camouflage of its nest is also known as a pseudo-nest.[7] They use this camouflage to avoid predators and protect against bad weather. These colonies will often be small with some species being flexible in their site preference. European *Pyrobombus* species tend to be more selective in site preference.[8] ## Pollination *Bombus pratorum* pollinating *Pyrobombus* collect pollen from a variety of flora by using their hind legs (scopa) to trap pollen between body hairs. By vibrating at high frequencies, pollen can be expelled from the bee's body to transport back to the colony and to other plants for fertilization.[9] This act of [buzz pollination](/source/Buzz_pollination) is typical of [*Bombus*](/source/Bumblebee) species. ## Ecology *Pyrobombus* are commonly found in open environments such as meadows, grass fields, and forests.[10] At these locations, bees can face predators such as bears, birds, badgers, and hornets. ### Ecology in Europe #### *Pyrobombus brodmannicus* *P. brodmannicus* is found in higher altitudes like the [French Alps](/source/French_Alps). Although it forages on a variety of plants, *P. brodmannicus* bees in Caucasia specialise in the [Boraginaceae](/source/Boraginaceae).[3] ## Distribution *Pyrobombus* bees are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere.[6] Most *Pyrobombus* species are experiencing habitat loss, with a few endangered in certain locations.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Species list The subgenus contains the following species:[1] - *[Bombus abnormis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_abnormis&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Tkalcu, 1968) - *[Bombus ardens](/source/Bombus_ardens)* Smith, 1879 – fire-tailed bumblebee - *[Bombus avanus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_avanus&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Skorikov, 1938) - *[Bombus beaticola](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_beaticola&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Tkalcu, 1968) - *[Bombus bifarius](/source/Bombus_bifarius)* Cresson, 1878 – two-form bumblebee - *[Bombus bimaculatus](/source/Bombus_bimaculatus)* Cresson, 1863 – two-spotted bumble bee - *[Bombus biroi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_biroi&action=edit&redlink=1)* Vogt, 1911 - *[Bombus brodmannicus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_brodmannicus&action=edit&redlink=1)* Vogt, 1909 - *[Bombus caliginosus](/source/Bombus_caliginosus)* (Frison, 1927) – obscure bumblebee - *[Bombus centralis](/source/Bombus_centralis)* Cresson, 1864 – central bumblebee - *[Bombus cingulatus](/source/Bombus_cingulatus)* Wahlberg, 1854 – small tree bumblebee - *[Bombus cockerelli](/source/Bombus_cockerelli)* Franklin, 1913 – Cockerell's bumblebee - *[Bombus ephippiatus](/source/Bombus_ephippiatus)* Say, 1837 - *[Bombus flavescens](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_flavescens&action=edit&redlink=1)* Smith, 1852 - *[Bombus flavifrons](/source/Bombus_flavifrons)* Cresson, 1863 – yellow-fronted bumble bee or yellowhead bumblebee - *[Bombus frigidus](/source/Bombus_frigidus)* Smith, 1854 – frigid bumblebee - *[Bombus haematurus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_haematurus&action=edit&redlink=1)* Kriechbaumer, 1870 - *[Bombus huntii](/source/Bombus_huntii)* Greene, 1860 - *[Bombus hypnorum](/source/Bombus_hypnorum)* (Linnaeus, 1758) – tree bumblebee or new garden bumblebee - *[Bombus impatiens](/source/Bombus_impatiens)* Cresson, 1863 – common eastern bumblebee - *[Bombus infirmus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_infirmus&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Tkalcu, 1968) - *[Bombus infrequens](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_infrequens&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Tkalcu, 1989) - *[Bombus johanseni](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_johanseni&action=edit&redlink=1)* [Sladen](/source/Frederick_Sladen), 1919 - *[Bombus jonellus](/source/Bombus_jonellus)* (Kirby, 1802) – heath humble-bee or small heath bumblebee - *[Bombus kotzschi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_kotzschi&action=edit&redlink=1)* Reinig, 1940 [*[sic](/source/Sic)*] - *[Bombus lapponicus](/source/Bombus_lapponicus)* (Fabricius, 1793) - *[Bombus lemniscatus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_lemniscatus&action=edit&redlink=1)* Skorikov, 1912 - *[Bombus lepidus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_lepidus&action=edit&redlink=1)* Skorikov, 1912 - *[Bombus luteipes](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_luteipes&action=edit&redlink=1)* Richards, 1934 - *[Bombus melanopygus](/source/Bombus_melanopygus)* Nylander, 1848 – black-tailed bumblebee, black tail bumblebee, or orange-rumped bumblebee - *[Bombus mirus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_mirus&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Tkalcu, 1968) - *[Bombus mixtus](/source/Bombus_mixtus)* Cresson, 1878 – fuzzy-horned bumblebee, tricoloured bumblebee, orange-belted bumblebee, or mixed bumblebee - *[Bombus modestus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_modestus&action=edit&redlink=1)* Eversmann, 1852 - *[Bombus monticola](/source/Bombus_monticola)* Smith, 1844 – bilberry bumblebee, blaeberry bumblebee or mountain bumblebee - ?*[Bombus oceanicus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_oceanicus&action=edit&redlink=1)* Friese, 1909 - *[Bombus parthenius](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_parthenius&action=edit&redlink=1)* Richards, 1934 - *[Bombus perplexus](/source/Bombus_perplexus)* Cresson, 1863 – confusing bumblebee - *[Bombus picipes](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_picipes&action=edit&redlink=1)* Richards, 1934 - *[Bombus pratorum](/source/Bombus_pratorum)* (Linnaeus, 1761) – early bumblebee or early-nesting bumblebee - *[Bombus pressus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_pressus&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Frison, 1935) - *[Bombus pyrenaeus](/source/Bombus_pyrenaeus)* Pérez, 1880 - *[Bombus rotundiceps](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_rotundiceps&action=edit&redlink=1)* Friese, 1916 - *[Bombus sandersoni](/source/Bombus_sandersoni)* Franklin, 1913 – Sanderson bumblebee - *[Bombus sitkensis](/source/Bombus_sitkensis)* Nylander, 1848 – Sitka bumblebee - *[Bombus sonani](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_sonani&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Frison, 1934) - *[Bombus subtypicus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_subtypicus&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Skorikov, 1914) - *[Bombus sylvicola](/source/Bombus_sylvicola)* Kirby, 1837 - *[Bombus ternarius](/source/Bombus_ternarius)* Say, 1837 – orange-belted bumblebee or tricolored bumblebee - *[Bombus vagans](/source/Bombus_vagans)* Smith, 1854 – half-black bumblebee - *[Bombus vancouverensis](/source/Bombus_vancouverensis)* Cresson, 1878 - *[Bombus vandykei](/source/Bombus_vandykei)* (Frison, 1927) – Van Dyke's bumblebee - *[Bombus vosnesenskii](/source/Bombus_vosnesenskii)* Radoszkowski, 1862 – yellow-faced bumblebee - *[Bombus wangae](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_wangae&action=edit&redlink=1)* Williams *et al.*, 2009 - *[Bombus wilmattae](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bombus_wilmattae&action=edit&redlink=1)* Cockerell, 1912 ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NHM_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NHM_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NHM_1-2) Paul H. Williams. ["*Pyrobombus* annotated checklist"](http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/bombus/pr.html). *Bombus: bumblebees of the world*. [Natural History Museum](/source/Natural_History_Museum%2C_London). Retrieved May 16, 2010. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_2-3) Williams, Paul (2006). ["Molecular phylogeny of the bumblebee subgenus Pyrobombus (Hymenoptera: Apidae Bombus ) with insights into gene utility for lower-level analysis"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248899934). *Invertebrate Systematics*. **20** (3): 289–303. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1071/IS05028](https://doi.org/10.1071%2FIS05028) – via Research Gate. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_3-1) Pierre Rasmont, Markus Franzén, Thomas Lecocq, Alexander Harpke, Stuart P.M. Roberts, Jacobus C. Biesmeijer, Leopoldo Castro, Björn Cederberg, Libor Dvořák, Úna Fitzpatrick, Yves Gonseth, Eric Haubruge, Gilles Mahé, Aulo Manino, Denis Michez, Johann Neumayer, Frode Ødegaard, Juho Paukkunen, Tadeusz Pawlikowski, Simon G. Potts, Menno Reemer, Josef Settele, Jakub Straka & Oliver Schweiger (2015). *Climatic Risk and Distribution Atlas of European Bumblebees*. Bulgaria: Pensoft. pp. 0–246. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-954-642-768-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-954-642-768-7).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Owen, Robin (2016). ["Rearing Bumble Bees for Research and Profit: Practical and Ethical Considerations"](https://www.intechopen.com/books/beekeeping-and-bee-conservation-advances-in-research/rearing-bumble-bees-for-research-and-profit-practical-and-ethical-considerations). *Beekeeping and Bee Conservation - Advances in Research*. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5772/63048](https://doi.org/10.5772%2F63048). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-953-51-2411-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-953-51-2411-5). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [156100387](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:156100387). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |website= ignored ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#periodical_ignored)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** R. C. Plowright and Robin E. Owen (1980). ["The Evolutionary Significance of Bumble Bee Color Patterns: A Mimetic Interpretation"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1558-5646.1980.tb04002.x). *Evolution*. **34** (4): 622–637. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1558-5646.1980.tb04002.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1558-5646.1980.tb04002.x). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [2408017](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2408017). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28563986](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28563986). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_6-1) Koulianos, Stella (1991). ["Phylogenetic Relationships of the Bumblebee Subgenus Pyrobombus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Inferred from Mitochondrial Cytochrome B and Cytochrome Oxidase I Sequences"](https://academic.oup.com/aesa/article-abstract/92/3/355/58675?redirectedFrom=fulltext). *Annals of the Entomological Society of America*. **92** (3): 355–358. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/aesa/92.3.355](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Faesa%2F92.3.355). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[20.500.11850/422490](https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850%2F422490) – via Oxford Academic. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:3_7-0)** Sakagami, Shoichi (1976). ["Specific Differences in the Bionomic Characters of Bumblebees. A Comparative Review"](http://www.atlashymenoptera.net/biblio/Sakagami_1976_Specific%20differences%20in%20bionomics%20characters%20of%20Bumblebees_full_OCR.pdf) (PDF). *Zoology*. **20**: 390–447 – via Hokkaido University. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** T. I. Szabo, D. H. Pengelly (1973). ["The over-wintering and emergence of Bombus (Pyrobombus) impatiens (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Apidæ) in southern Ontario"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226948255). *Insectes Sociaux*. **20** (2): 125–132. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/BF02223343](https://doi.org/10.1007%2FBF02223343). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [7102497](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:7102497) – via Research Gate. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mario, Marin (2019). ["Buzz pollination: studying bee vibrations on flowers"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fnph.15666). *New Phytologist*. **224** (3): 995–1404. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2019NewPh.224.1068V](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019NewPh.224.1068V). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/nph.15666](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fnph.15666). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[1893/28464](https://hdl.handle.net/1893%2F28464). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [30585638](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30585638). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Williams, Paul (2000). ["Bombus"](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/bombus/pr.html). *Natural History Museum*. Taxon identifiers Pyrobombus Wikidata: Q7263626 Wikispecies: Pyrobombus EoL: 3789710 iNaturalist: 538900 NBN: NHMSYS0000875500 NCBI: 144703 Open Tree of Life: 67327 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pyrobombus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrobombus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrobombus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.