The New Forms of Bumblebees

• Main Author: Skorikov, A.
• Other Authors: Institut d'Etudes Slaves
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Hosted by Utah State University Libraries 1925
• Subjects: Arctic; Stripe; ALPINOBOMBUS
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_all/33; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/context/bee_lab_all/article/1032/viewcontent/DNO0193_CabinetSiBx01_Skorikov_1925_Item01.pdf

♀ Head very large (H=6, 1; L=4, 95mm) length exceeds the breadth significantly (H - L = 1, 15 mm.). Cheeks very long and narrow (h.=1,25; 1=0 75mm.). Length exceeding breadth in more than two instances (h - 1=1, 00mm.). Shield (corselet) lblong strongly convexed, its surface smooth rather shiny, with scattered and rather coarse pits, particularly in the front half. Jaws without hollows (slopes) on free end at lower (under) angle. Ant.3 twice as short as ant. 2 and noticeably shorter than ant.4. The last abdominal segment keels rather plainly. Above, in the middle, it (segment) has in part, a deep smooth furrow with a rugged rough surface. Hair moderately thick of unequal height. Female of medium size.-All black, with reddish tint. Thorax bright yellow with black band occupying not much more than a third of the width of the thorax; the yellow color of the forward stripe extends also to the upper third (or not much more) of the side. Terg.1, and the wide sector of terg.2 bright yellow. According to the systematical symptoms (signs), it corresponds most closely to Hortobombus argillaceus (Scop.), inhabiting the steppes, being differentiated from the latter by the greater length and narrowness of its cheeks, and also by the lesser thickness, greater height (length), and lesser evenness of its hair, as well as by the other sculpture of ter.6. In view of (and) concerning the close relationship between the kind described and the above named, it would be of great interest to receive workers and males of H. tickenkoi, sp.n., which would explain whether its color polymorphism is peculiar to it, so clearly distinguished in H. argilaceus, one might almost say, in all of our bumblebees. In its exterior the kind (species?) being described corresponds to the arctic Alpinobombus pleuralis f.typ. together with which it is encountered, so that in this correspondence one may see a case of regional convergence.