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Discrimination of the bumblebee species Bombus lucorum, B. cryptarum and B. magnus by morphological characters and male labial gland secretions (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Authors:
Andreas Bertsch at Philipps University of Marburg
Andreas Bertsch
Horst Schweer at Philipps University of Marburg
Horst Schweer
Andreas Titze
Andreas Titze
Andreas Titze
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Abstract

Spring queens of B. lucorum, B. cryptarum and B. magnus from 2 localities in Brandenburg/Germany and Scotland/United Kingdom respectively were determined by morphological characteristics. The lateral border of the collare at the border of the pronotallobus or at the episternum proved to be an especially useful character. Queens with fresh coulour can be determined safely; they are good morphospecies without overlap of characters. Distribution maps ( ) for B. cryptarum and B . magnus from Berlin and Brandenburg are given. From the catch dates avaiIable the spring phenology of the queens flight activity is reconstructed. Queens of B. cryptarum emerge early in spring, their activity is 2-3 weeks ahead of b. magnus. Artificial colonies were reared from safely determined spring queens and the cephalic of part of the labial glands of males from these colonies was investigated by GC/MS. About 50 compounds were determined, a mixture of straight chain fatty acid derivatives(alcohols, esters and hydrocarbons). By the labial gland secretions three different taxa can be distinguished. The labial gland secretions of males of B . magnus from ScotIand and Brandenburg are identical the species recognition signals are stable over extended area. The labial gIand secretions of males of B. cryptarum from Brandenburg and of males from artificial colonies reared from safely determined spring queens from Scotland are also identical, B. cryptarum has been identified to be part of the British bumbIe bee fauna for the first time. The differences of he labial gland secretions used as species recognition signals confirm the morphological findings, B. lucorum, B. cryptarum and B. magnus are god species.
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


54



Discrimination of the bumblebee species
lucorum
,
B. cryptarum
and
B. magnus
by morphological characters
B. magnus by morphological characters B. magnus
and male labial gland secretions
(Hymenoptera: Apidae)




Zusammenfassung

B. lucorum
B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
        
  
 
 

B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. cryptarum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
         

    

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. cryptarum

B. cryptarum

  

B. lucorum
B. cryptarum

B. magnus

Summary

B. lucorum
B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
 




B. cryptarum

B. magnus


B. cryptarum

B. magnus




 
B. magnus

 
B. cryptarum


B. cryptarum

 

B. lucorum
B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


     




     


        

Bombus

BombusBombus


Bombus

Bombus (Bombus) terrestris

Bombus (Bombus) terrestrisBombus (Bombus) terrestris


B. (B.) lucorum



B. (B.) magnus

B. (B.) magnusB. (B.) magnus


B. (B.) cryptarum



B. (B.) sporadi-
cus
cuscus

     
     



  
  







    














 
 
B. sporadicus
,
B. sporadicus, B. sporadicus
B. terrestris

B. terrestrisB. terrestris
B. lucorum
  
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. cryptarum





   
B. lucorum
 







B. cryptarum

B. magnus
  
        

B. cryptarum

B. magnus



B. lucorum

Bumblebee samples
 
B. lucorum
,
B. cryptarum

B. magnus
   
B. magnus    B. magnus
        

       

  

Vaccinium myrtillus

Vaccinium myrtillusVaccinium myrtillus



Cotoneaster

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus



 
 
Anthyllis vulneraria

Anthyllis vulnerariaAnthyllis vulneraria


Cirsium palustre
     
B. cryptarum

DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54


    
            



    




Morphology
       










 


Gland preparation and GC/MS



   



 


   
 


   
       

Character coding and data matrix for Cladogram (Fig. 14)


 


DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


 


 

 
 
 
 
 





B. lucorum

 
 
 
 
 
 






terrestris
lucorum
magnus
magnus
cryptarum
cryptarum
    


 
B. terrestris

B. terrestrisB. terrestris





The diagnostic character “coloration of the collare” and “border of collare at prono tal -
lobus/episternum” of queens

B. lucorum








B. cryptarum




B. cryptarum




DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


 

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


B. lucorum
,
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. cryptarum

 
B. cryptarum




B. cryptarum

B. magnus


 
B. cryptarum
  


B. cryptarum

Distribution of
B. cryptarum
and
B. magnus
in Berlin and Brandenburg
B. magnus in Berlin and BrandenburgB. magnus


B. lucorum


B. cryptarum


Figs. 1-2:


+

Fig. 1:
B. cryptarum




Fig. 2:
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

Figs. 3-4:
B. cryptarum



+

Fig. 3:


Fig. 4:

Figs. 5-6:
B. cryptarum



+

Fig. 5:


Fig. 6:

DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54

Figs. 7-8:

magnus

magnusmagnus


+

Fig. 7:

Fig. 8:

Figs. 9-10:

magnus

magnusmagnus


+

Fig. 9:

Fig. 10:

DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


B. cryptarum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus






Bombus terrestris

Bombus terrestrisBombus terrestris
fl avoscutel-
laris
 
 

B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

      

Phenology of spring queens of
B. cryptarum
and
B. magnus
in Berlin and Branden burg
B. magnus in Berlin and Branden burgB. magnus

 
Fig. 11:
 
B. cryptarum



B. magnus

B. magnus B. magnus

  

DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54


 
   
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. cryptarum

B. magnus




GC/MS of the cephalic labial glands of males

B. lu-
corum
B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
 

B. lucorum

 
B. cryptarum

B. magnus
    
     
    
Bombus

BombusBombus











    
B. magnus

B. magnus B. magnus

     


B. lucorum


B. cryptarum

B. magnus


B. lucorum

B. magnus

B. cryptarum

       

B. magnus
      

B. cryptarum

    

Fig. 12:
  
B. cryptarum

 
B. magnus
B. magnus B. magnus

    

DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus



























































































































































































































































Tab. 1.
    
Bombus lucorum


B. cryptarum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus



DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54


     









B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. cryptarum


Fig. 13:

B. lucorum



B. cryp-
tarum



B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus



B. lucorum


B. cryptarum



DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

 

B. lucorum

B. magnus

B. cryptarum


Morphology

B. lucorum




B. lucorum

pseudocryptarum
   


B. lucorum

lucocryp-
tarum
      



lucocrypta-
rum

 
B. magnus
  



B. terrestris

B. terrestrisB. terrestris
fl avoscutellaris




B. audax

B. audaxB. audax
pseudosporadicus

pseudosporadicus pseudosporadicus





B. lucorum
Rasse latocinctus

Rasse latocinctusRasse latocinctus
   





 



B. cryptarum




 
  

B. cryptarum

   
B. magnus
   
B. magnus   B. magnus

Vaccinium myrtillus

Vaccinium myrtillusVaccinium myrtillus
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus





 
  





          
       


Bombus magnus
        
Bombus magnus         Bombus magnus
B. lucorum


       


    
     
DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54



B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. lucorum




B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus






  

B. lucorum

B. cryptarum


        

B. cryptarum







Distribution and biology


 





B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


B. lucorum





B. cryptarum

B. lucorum


B. cryptarum
      
   
         

B. cryptarum



B. cryptarum


B. magnus
   
B. magnus    B. magnus
        
B. magnus
  
B. magnus   B. magnus

          

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. lucorum

B. cryptarum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus



B. cryptarum


B. magnus
 


DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. cryptarum

B. lucorum


B. cryptarum

B. lucorum








B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. lucorum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


B. crypta-
rum
 
B. magnus
 
B. magnus  B. magnus



Salix

SalixSalix
Erica carnea

Erica carneaErica carnea
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. cryptarum

B. magnus
Gas Chromatogram





 

B. lapponicus

B. lapponicusB. lapponicus
B. monticola


B. lucorum

B. cryptarum




B. crypta-
rum

B. magnus

B.
lucorum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. cryptarum
 

B. lucorum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. cryptarum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. lucorum

B. cryptarum

B. lucorum

  
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
     
B. cryptarum
  

B. lucorum

B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. lucorum

B. lucorum












 


B. lucorum



B. lucorum







B. lucorum

B. cryptarum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. lucorum
,
B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. cryptarum




    
DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54

 



B. lucorum



   





B. lucorum





B. lucorum

B. cryptarum







    
   
 
   

 

    


B. cryptarum


Enzyme electrophoretic data and Mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase 1 DNA sequences


Bombus


Lasius



Lasioglossum


Apis





B. lucorum
B. cryptarum

B. magnus



B. cryptarum

B. lucorum


B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. lucorum








       








 





B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus
B. lucorum
 

   
B. cryptarum
 
B. lucorum
      

B. magnus
 
B. magnus B. magnus
B. lucorum
  





DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus



B. terrestris

B. terrestrisB. terrestris
 
B. lucorum

B. cryptarum

B. magnus


B. lucorum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus



    
B. magnus
     
B. magnus      B. magnus
    


B. magnus
  
B. magnus   B. magnus
           
B. crypta-
rum

reinigianus






   
B. magnus


    
B. cryptarum
 

B. cryptarum



           

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

Conclusions
           








B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

B. terrestris [outgroup]
B. lucorum
B. magnus
B. cryptarum
Fig. 14:



DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54

Acknowledgement
             

 





References



      
Apis,
Bombus

BombusBombus
Psithyrus

12



Bombus

BombusBombus
Psithyrus principally

Psithyrus principallyPsithyrus principally

9



58








Bombus lucorum


4





   








Bombus cryptarum

B. lucorum


22



Terrestribombus

TerrestribombusTerrestribombus

Bombus cryptarum

B. lucorum




2

   

     

55



Bombus

BombusBombus

221




24
 24




19




1




             



 
 

23




  
Terrestribombus

TerrestribombusTerrestribombus


93




  
Terrestribombus

TerrestribombusTerrestribombus


97




  
Terrestribombus

TerrestribombusTerrestribombus


99




  
Terrestribombus

TerrestribombusTerrestribombus


101

DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus


           

20


 
   




Bombus, Psithyrus
Bombus, PsithyrusBombus, Psithyrus

Bombus lucorum

101







Bombus lucorum


7



Psithyrus




Bombus

    

5


      

33




    
 
       


28




50


       
Bombus lucocryptarum



117





      
Bombus

     

7





Bombus



93




Bombus
lucorum

14

   
  
    
Bombus moderatus


Bombus lucorum


68



 
B. franklini

B. frankliniB. franklini



Bombus

BombusBombus
68


      

13


       


 
Pyrobombus lapponicus
     
Pyrobombus lapponicus   Pyrobombus lapponicus
P. lapponicus


P. monticola

P. monticolaP. monticola


10








Apis cerana, A. koschevnikovi

Apis cerana, A. koschevnikoviApis cerana, A. koschevnikovi
A. dorsata


6




Apis
nuluensis
  
nuluensis  nuluensis
A. cerana
   
A. cerana  A. cerana

48




Bombus terrestris

Bombus terrestrisBombus terrestris
fl avoscutellaris




 

   
  
 
  

Bombus lucorum


98

DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54








    

91


       




10


 

60



Bombus




19


               
 
67




Bombus lucorum

Appendix I


Abbreviations
 
 
 

 


 


Bombus cryptarum
(117 specimens from 52 localities)
Brandenburg:
LKr. Uckermark:

    


LKr. Oberhavel:




    
   




   

   







  
    







LKr. Barnim:

    


    



 
    

 

LKr. Havelland:


















DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus

LKr. M
ä
rkisch-Oderland:
   















Potsdam:




LKr. Potsdam-Mittelmark:

     



LKr. Teltow-Fl
ä
ming:
  




LKr. Dahme-Spreewald:












  

  















LKr. Oder-Spree:





LKr. Spree-Nei
ß
e:







Cottbus:






Berlin:
Berlin-Pankow:
  



   

   
  
    



  






Berlin-Spandau:
  

  
  

  




  
   
   



Berlin-Reinickendorf:







   

   



Berlin-Mitte:






Berlin-Marzahn:





Berlin-Zehlendorf:

     







Berlin-Treptow:





DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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

54

Berlin-K
ö
Berlin-KöBerlin-K
penick:

    


 
 



B. magnus
(31 specimens from 20 localities)
B. magnus (31 specimens from 20 localities)B. magnus
Brandenburg:
LKr. Oberhavel
:
  
   



 

     







LKr. Barnim:




LKr. Havelland:





LKr. M
ä
rkisch-Oderland:


LKr. Potsdam-Mittelmark:







LKr. Dahme-Spreewald
:








    


 




  










LKr. Oder-Spree
:





LKr. Spree-Nei
ß
e
:




Berlin:
Berlin-Mitte:


Berlin-Spandau:
  
  








Berlin-Reinickendorf:

 





Berlin-Wilmerdorf:


Berlin-K
ö
Berlin-KöBerlin-K
penick:

    



Appendix II


DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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



B. cryptarum

B. magnus

B. magnusB. magnus




  

 
       
            


B. terrestris





B. cryptarum
 

            


B. terrestris

           



  


B. lucorum

       


 





B. cryptarum

   
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
B. magnus
Author’s addresses:




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

 
 
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 
 
DOI: 10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.2.365-386
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... In Nederland en België geldt dit vooral voor de hommels uit het aardhommelcomplex, bestaande uit de wilgenhommel Bombus cryptarum (Fabricius, 1775), de veldhommel B. lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761), de grote veldhommel B. magnus Vogt, 1911 en de aardhommel B. terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758). Kruisingsexperimenten (De Jonghe & Rasmont 1983), onderzoek naar de mannelijke feromonen (Bertsch 1997, Bertsch et al. 2004, 2005 en DNA-analyse van het COI-gen (Bertsch et al. 2005, Murray et al. 2008, Williams et al. 2012b) laten zien dat deze hommels aparte soorten zijn. ...
... In het verleden zijn veel verschillende kenmerken gebruikt om de hommels uit het aardhommel-complex uit elkaar te houden. De belangrijkste hebben betrekking op de gele band op het borststuk (de kraag) bij koninginnen, zoals de aanwezigheid van een S-vorm van zwarte haren en hoe ver de gele band onder de vleugelaanhechting naar beneden reikt (Bertsch et al. 2004, Bertsch et al. 2005, Carolan et al. 2012, Rasmont 1984, Williams 2000 (figuur 1-2). Er is echter onduidelijkheid over de bruikbaarheid van deze kenmerken omdat er overlap is tussen soorten (Bertsch et al. 2004, 2005, Carolan et al. 2012. ...
... De belangrijkste hebben betrekking op de gele band op het borststuk (de kraag) bij koninginnen, zoals de aanwezigheid van een S-vorm van zwarte haren en hoe ver de gele band onder de vleugelaanhechting naar beneden reikt (Bertsch et al. 2004, Bertsch et al. 2005, Carolan et al. 2012, Rasmont 1984, Williams 2000 (figuur 1-2). Er is echter onduidelijkheid over de bruikbaarheid van deze kenmerken omdat er overlap is tussen soorten (Bertsch et al. 2004, 2005, Carolan et al. 2012. Andere kenmerken die gebruikt worden bij koninginnen zijn de punctering van het ocellaire veld, de punctering en microsculptuur op tergiet 2 en de vorm van structuren op het labrum (Amiet 1996, Kos 2020, Rasmont 1984. ...
Herkenning van de soorten van het aardhommel-complex door middel van kleurpatronen (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus s.s.)
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2023
Het subgenus Bombus omvat in Nederland en België Bombus cryptarum, B. lucorum, B. magnus en B. terrestris. Deze hommels zijn zeer lastig uit elkaar te houden en daarom worden ze vaak bij elkaar genoemd als het aardhommel-complex. In deze studie proberen we met gemakkelijk herkenbare kenmerken te achterhalen of de hommels van het aardhommel-complex in het veld gedetermineerd kunnen worden. De individuen werden onderzocht op bepaalde kleurpatronen van de beharing en werden daarna geïdentificeerd op basis van het COI-gen. De mate waarin de hommels op basis van deze kleurpatronen gedetermineerd konden worden, was sterk afhankelijk van de soort en kaste. Koninginnen en mannetjes van B. magnus en mannetjes van B. lucorum werden het meest betrouwbaar onderscheiden. Werksters van de vier soorten konden echter niet onderscheiden worden op basis van kleurpatronen. Onze resultaten suggereren dat de status van deze vier hommelsoorten in Nederland en België onzeker is door foutieve determinaties in het verleden en heden. Als er aan deze soorten onderzoek wordt gedaan, bijvoorbeeld gedragsexperimenten, dan moet er voorzichtig worden omgegaan met het determineren op basis van kleurpatronen.
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... Reasons for this are the relatively monotonous morphology (Michener 2007), enormous variability in coloration and size which is often associated with biogeographical distribution (e.g., Vogt 1909, Vogt 1911, Krüger 1951, Løken 1973, Pekkarinen 1979 and the fact that the same or similar color-patterns are often repeated in various species (Dalla Torre 1880, Reinig 1939, Amiet 1996, Williams 2007 and references therein). One of these groups with very similar morphology consists of the European species of the subgenus Bombus Bertsch et al. 2004, Bertsch et al. 2005. Still, serious doubts remain concerning the validity of species identification based on morphology and the reliability of certain distinguishing characters have been challenged (e.g., Williams 2000. ...
... The confirmation of a third species with biochemical methods remained open for some time (Obrecht and Scholl 1984, Scholl et al. 1990, Scholl et al. 1992, Pamilo et al. 1997, probably due to the similar enzyme genetic profiles of B. cryptarum and B. magnus. However, it is likely that the samples of B. cryptarum and B. magnus used for analyses were mixed, a point that Bertsch et al. (2004) presupposed for Pamilo et al. (1997). With recurring theme, the morphometric attempts of Baker (1996) were of restricted value, since B. cryptarum was not considered as a separate species and the same applies for Macdonald (1999). ...
... The first sufficient biochemical evidence for all three species was conducted by Bertsch (1997) and Bertsch et al. (2004) by the identification of three distinct male labial gland secretion profiles: the profiles of B. cryptarum and B. magnus are similar and share ethyl dodecanoate as the main component. Yet they clearly differ in minor components such as alcohols (Bertsch et al. 2004, Bertsch et al. 2005. ...
Recognition and identification of bumblebee species in the Bombus lucorum-complex (Hymenoptera, Apidae) – A review and outlook
Article
Full-text available
The recognition of cryptic species represents one of the major challenges in current taxonomy and affects our understanding of global diversity. In practice, the process from discovery to acceptance in the scientific community can take an extensive length of time. A prime example is the traditionally difficult taxonomy of the cryptic bumblebee species belonging to the Bombus lucorum-complex. The status of the three European species in the group – Bombus lucorum and the closely related Bombus cryptarum and Bombus magnus – has recently become widely accepted, primarily due to investigations of nucleotide sequences and marking pheromones. In contrast, doubts prevail concerning the validity of species identification based on morphology. As a consequence, our knowledge of the species is muddled in a mire of unreliable and confusing literature data from a large number of authors over the centuries. To clarify this issue, this paper provides a recapitulation of the historical literature and highlights the milestones in the process of species recognition. Further, the possibility of a morphologically based species identification is discussed in the context of new molecular data. Finally, this review outlines the current challenges and provides directions for future issues.
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... lucorum . However, blends of male labial gland secretions (Bertsch et al. 1997;Bertsch et al. 2004;Bertsch et al. 2005), together with DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene (Pedersen, 2002;Bertsch et al. 2005;Murray et al. 2008), revealed that B. cryptarum , B. lucorum and B. magnus were distinct species. In addition, interbreeding experiments have resulted in no offspring (De Jonghe and Rasmont, 1983), confirming that they are separate species. ...
... In the past, many different characters have been used to distinguish thelucorum complex species. The key features often used are the colour patterns in the collar of queens, such as an S-shape line of black hairs and the extent of the yellow collar downwards (Figure 1; Rasmont, 1984;Bertsch et al. 2004;Bertsch et al. 2005;Carolan et al. 2012). These characteristics can be helpful in species identification, but are hampered by overlap between species and geographic variation within species (Bertsch et al. 2004;Bertsch et al. 2005;Carolan et al. 2012). ...
... The key features often used are the colour patterns in the collar of queens, such as an S-shape line of black hairs and the extent of the yellow collar downwards (Figure 1; Rasmont, 1984;Bertsch et al. 2004;Bertsch et al. 2005;Carolan et al. 2012). These characteristics can be helpful in species identification, but are hampered by overlap between species and geographic variation within species (Bertsch et al. 2004;Bertsch et al. 2005;Carolan et al. 2012). Waters et al. (2011) assessed the extension of the yellow collar in workers of the lucorum complex in the Western Isles of Scotland. ...
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... This species has strong jaws, which are effective for digging and defense (Cetkovic 2003). Paper wasps (family Vespidae), of which Polistes dominula (Krishti, 1791) is one of the most common and locally well-known species, are present in Albania and are known for building nests made of a paper-like material, which they produce by chewing plant fibres mixed with saliva (Bagriacik 2012). Fire ants (Formicidae: Solenopsis) are known for their unique and painful sting. ...
... The most common large European grounddwelling bumblebee, B. terrestris, is a Mediterranean species known as the owltailed bumblebee. Workers of B. terrestris have white-bottomed abdomens and darker yellow bands (Fig. 3D) compared to those of B. lucorum, that are characterised by a lemonyellow collar behind the head, a bright yellow band in the middle of the body, and a pure white tail (Bertsch et al. 2004). There are breeding data for ten subspecies of honey bees Apis mellifera (Fig. 3A) in Albania, as well as hybrid such as Buckfast bees (Kuliçi et al. 2023 3G). ...
Medically significant spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) and hymenopterans (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Albania: A comprehensive review of ecology and venom toxicity. Polish Journal of Entomology, 94(null), 13-35.
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2025
Among the several publications focusing on spiders and insects in Albania, very few address their venom, toxicity and medical significance. This study presents the first comprehensive data on the ecology and distribution of medically significant insects and spiders found in Albania, including information on morphology, habitat preferences and venom toxicity. The data presented here has been gathered from an extensive literature review and through citizen science, focusing on social networks, written and verbal media, observations collected from the online platforms iNaturalist and records available on The Global Biodiversity Information Facility website. Results show that spiders from the “widow” group, belonging to the genera Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 and Steatoda Sundevall, 1833, are frequently mentioned in the literature for the severity of their bites due to the potent neurotoxin α–latrotoxin present in their venom. Meanwhile, the medical significance of hymenopterans, especially the honeybee Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, is due to the anaphylactic reactions induced by their highly allergenic venom. This study presents the first attempt to map the distribution of venomous spiders and insects present in Albania, with detailed information on their morphology, ecology, and venom toxicity, with the aim of informing the public and health professionals across the country, and more largely, the Balkan region.
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... One collected specimen belongs to a cryptic bumblebee species group, the so-called Bombus lucorum complex. The status of three distinct species within the complex is widely accepted today (Bertsch et al. 2004, Bertsch et al. 2005, Murray et al. 2008, Bertsch 2009. In contrast, there is heavy doubt about the species identification based on morphology and there are implications that the species might be morphologically indistinguishable (Williams 2000, Waters et al. 2011. ...
... Therefore it can safely be assumed that the specimen belongs to B. cryptarum. The specimen shows the 'S'-shape of black hairs in the first collar ( Fig. 6), which has been considered a characteristic trait for queens in the literature (Rasmont 1981, Rasmont 1984, Bertsch 1997, Bertsch et al. 2004). After Rasmont (pers. ...
The high alpine bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of the Zillertal Alps, Austria
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2014
Bees from the Zemmgrund area in the Zillertal Alps (Austria, Tyrol) were collected and determined to investigate the species composition of the area. A total of 61 specimens were collected over a two year period; they represent 24 species from 8 genera. Building on these records, the first commented checklist for the area is presented, with notes on habitats and visited flowers.
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... Ødegaard et al. (2015), on the other hand, record only one specimen at Ekkerøy, but no others in the entire Varanger region, and Bollingmo (2012) only lists specimens from a few localities. The available specimens, especially of the queens that are somewhat easier to categorise (Bertsch et al. 2004), identify all the animals found in the B. terrestris-lucorum-complex as B. cryptarum. ...
Comparative studies on the bumblebee (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus Latreille, 1802) fauna of the small Ekkerøy peninsula in the subarctic part of northern Norway from 1990 and 2023
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2024
Abstract: Current bumblebee (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus Latreille, 1802) observations on the small subarctic peninsula of Ekkerøy in the Varanger Fjord in Northern Norway are presented and compared with data from the same location in 1990. 6 bumblebee species were detected in 1990 and 9 in 2023 Newly detected species were Bombus hortorum Linneaus, 1761, B. pratorum Linnaeus, 1761 and B. bohemicus Seidl, 1837. The most common species both years was B. lapponicus Fabricius, 1793. The abundance of all other species fluctuated greatly in some cases. A comparison of individual days showed considerable differences in the composition of the bumblebee communities at the same location. The same applies to a day on which two surveys were carried out at different times. B. hortorum is in the process of colonising the Varanger peninsula. The sequence of the most important forage plants for bumblebees could be determined for Ekkerøy over the entire bumblebee season. Further changes in Ekkerøy's bumblebee diversity are expected in the future due to climate change. Key words: Hymenoptera, Bumblebees, Bombus, Ekkerøy, Varanger, Northern Norway, Fennoscandia, subarctic, arctic, comparative study, forage plants.
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... Auffällig war, dass sie auf unvorsichtige Annäherung sofort mit Flucht reagierten. Sowohl der im Vergleich zu den anderen Erdhummeln jahreszeitlich späte Beginn der Aktivitäten als auch das scheue Verhalten scheinen charakteristisch zu sein[7].Zur Blütezeit der Besenheide (Abbildung 4) im August und September konnten auch die Arbeiterinnen nachgewiesen werden, denn einzelne Arbeiterinnen der Großen Erdhummel zeigen ein besonderes Merkmal, das sie von allen anderen in Deutschland heimischen Erdhummeln unterscheidet: Sie sind nicht nur auf dem zweiten, sondern auch auf dem ersten Tergit ausgedehnt gelb behaart (Abbildungen 5); bei einigen Exemplaren sind sogar am Scutellum (Schildchen; am Hinterrand des Thorax) gelbe Haare zu erkennen (Abbildung 5b)[2,8]. ...
Die Große Erdhummel – eine kryptische Charakterart großer Heidelandschaften
Article
Full-text available
  • May 2024
  • Biol Unserer Zeit
Weil die Bestimmung von Erdhummeln im Feld in vielen Fällen nicht sicher gelingt, wird die Große Erdhummel (Bombus magnus) in der Literatur oft eher zurückhaltend behandelt. Bei näherer Betrachtung in ausgedehnten Heidegebieten im nördlichen Brandenburg hat sie sich jedoch als wertgebende Art dieser Lebensräume erwiesen. Ihre Identifizierung ist an Hand von Individuen mit guter Merkmalsausprägung sogar leicht möglich, so dass es sich auch bei der Bewertung von Schutzgebieten sehr lohnt, auf diese prächtig gefärbte Art zu achten.
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... Supporting information S1 While the Bombus lucorum-complex in Denmark is near impossible to distinguish morphologically, in particular amongst the workers, they are here maintained separately because of certain known forage-differences [118]. Andrena albofasciata is considered a junior synonym of A. ovatula by [63,64], but retained here in agreement with [57]. ...
Evaluating competition for forage plants between honey bees and wild bees in Denmark
Article
Full-text available
A recurrent concern in nature conservation is the potential competition for forage plants between wild bees and managed honey bees. Specifically, that the highly sophisticated system of recruitment and large perennial colonies of honey bees quickly exhaust forage resources leading to the local extirpation of wild bees. However, different species of bees show different preferences for forage plants. We here summarize known forage plants for honey bees and wild bee species at national scale in Denmark. Our focus is on floral resources shared by honey bees and wild bees, with an emphasis on both threatened wild bee species and foraging specialist species. Across all 292 known bee species from Denmark, a total of 410 plant genera were recorded as forage plants. These included 294 plant genera visited by honey bees and 292 plant genera visited by different species of wild bees. Honey bees and wild bees share 176 plant genera in Denmark. Comparing the pairwise niche overlap for individual bee species, no significant relationship was found between their overlap and forage specialization or conservation status. Network analysis of the bee-plant interactions placed honey bees aside from most other bee species, specifically the module containing the honey bee had fewer links to any other modules, while the remaining modules were more highly inter-connected. Despite the lack of predictive relationship from the pairwise niche overlap, data for individual species could be summarized. Consequently, we have identified a set of operational parameters that, based on a high foraging overlap (>70%) and unfavorable conservation status (Vulnerable+Endangered+Critically Endangered), can guide both conservation actions and land management decisions in proximity to known or suspected populations of these species.
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... These factors make species recognition particularly difficult in bumblebees and studies utilizing multiple genetic loci have recently resulted in the discovery of several previously undescribed species (Martinet et al. 2019;Ghisbain et al. 2020). The number of bumblebee species is likely underestimated with many cryptic species living in sympatry, which may have experienced gene flow during their formation (Bertsch et al. 2004;Murray et al. 2008;Bossert 2015). ...
Genetic Barriers to Historical Gene Flow between Cryptic Species of Alpine Bumblebees Revealed by Comparative Population Genomics
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2021
  • MOL BIOL EVOL
Evidence is accumulating that gene flow commonly occurs between recently-diverged species, despite the existence of barriers to gene flow in their genomes. However, we still know little about what regions of the genome become barriers to gene flow and how such barriers form. Here we compare genetic differentiation across the genomes of bumblebee species living in sympatry and allopatry to reveal the potential impact of gene flow during species divergence and uncover genetic barrier loci. We first compared the genomes of the alpine bumblebee Bombus sylvicola and a previously unidentified sister species living in sympatry in the Rocky Mountains, revealing prominent islands of elevated genetic divergence in the genome that co-localize with centromeres and regions of low recombination. This same pattern is observed between the genomes of another pair of closely-related species living in allopatry (B. bifarius and B. vancouverensis). Strikingly however, the genomic islands exhibit significantly elevated absolute divergence (dXY) in the sympatric, but not the allopatric, comparison indicating that they contain loci that have acted as barriers to historical gene flow in sympatry. Our results suggest that intrinsic barriers to gene flow between species may often accumulate in regions of low recombination and near centromeres through processes such as genetic hitchhiking, and that divergence in these regions is accentuated in the presence of gene flow.
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Die Hummeln des Klostergartens der Propstei Zella in der Thüringischen Rhön (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus)
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2024
Over a period of 6 years, the bumblebee species of the genus Bombus and their frequency in the monastery garden of the Provost in Zella (Rhön) were recorded. Above 100 plant species provide food for the animals throughout the season. Fifteen bumblebee species could be identified. The most common species were B. lapidarius, representatives of the B.-terrestris-lucorum complex and B. pascuorum. Of the threatened species, B. humilis, B. norvegicus, B. sylvarum and B. wurflenii were detected. An unusual, uniformly beige coloured drone with wing deformations was observed from B. terrestris on flowers during nectar collection. One worker of B. pascuorum and one drone of B. hortorum were documented as spider victims (Theridiidae). An increase in the population of the violet carpenter bee Xylocopa violacea has been observed over the years. The diverse range of flowers in botanical gardens makes an important contribution to maintaining local bumblebee populations and thus to preserving biodiversity.
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Mammalian pheromone studies, IV*. Terpenoid Compounds and Hydroxy Esters from the Dorsal Gland of the Springbok, Antidorcas marsupialis
Article
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  • Jun 2014
  • Z NATURFORSCH C
Acyclic terpenoid compounds, aldehydes, ketones, hydroxy esters, and dimethyl sulphone were identified in the dorsal exudate of the antelope Antidorcas marsupialis. The novel diterpenes α- and β-springene, found in this exudate, were synthesised from famesyl acetone
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Chemotaxonomical characterisation of males of Bombus lucorum (Hymenoptera: Apidae) collected in the Czech Republic
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2001
Labial gland secretions of 26 males of the bumblebee Bombus lucorum (L.), collected in the Czech Republic, were analysed. The secretions consisted of 60 compounds; ethyl (Z)-9-tetradecenoate was the main component (average 53%). Although the males varied in colour, their labial gland secretions were similar in composition, which indicated they belonged to one species. Chemically the B. lucorum occurring in the Czech Republic correspond to the earlier described "blonde form" of this species.
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Genetic differentiation among geographic groups of three honeybee species, Apis cerana, A. koschevnikovi and A. dorsata, in Borneo
Article
  • Jan 2001
We sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene of three honeybee species of Borneo, Apis cerana, A. koschevnikovi and A. dorsata, and carried out phylogenetic analyses considering geographic genetic variation. We also compared the sequence divergence-geographic distance relationships among the three species. Estimated genetic differentiation was an order of magnitude larger in A. koschevnikovi than in A. cerana and A. dorsata. Migratory nesting behavior and cold tolerance of each honeybee, and the paleoclimate of the Southeast Asian tropics, are discussed as factors that produced these characteristics for mitochondrial genetic markers, and conservation priorities are recommended.
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