Bombus dahlbomii
Species of bee / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bombus dahlbomii, also known as the moscardón, is a species of bumblebee endemic to southern South American temperate forests.[2] B. dahlbomii is one of the largest bee species in the world, with matured queens growing up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long.[3] Because of its size and furry appearance, the species has been described as "flying mice" colloquially, and "a monstrous fluffy ginger beast" by British ecologist David Goulson.[4]
Bombus dahlbomii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Apidae |
Genus: | Bombus |
Species: | B. dahlbomii |
Binomial name | |
Bombus dahlbomii Guérin-Méneville, 1835 | |
B. dahlbomii is native to southern Chile and southern Argentina, including Patagonia.[3] The decline of its populations started with the introduction of Bombus terrestris and B. ruderatus into Chile to serve as commercial pollinators.[3] B. dahlbomii population decline can also be attributed to the pathogen spillover of the parasitic protozoan Apicystis bombi, which was co-introduced with B. terrestris.
B. dahlbomii is an important insect in local ecosystems, such as the Maulino forest of central Chile. There, it is a major pollinator of native plants such as Lapageria rosea and Alstroemeria aurea, both of which serve important commercial purposes.[5][6]