Bombus melanopygus (Black-tailed Bumble Bee)
Credit: Leif Richardson
about the species
Bombus melanopygus (black-tailed bumble bee) is native to western North America. This species is common across most of its range, from the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains, and from Alaska to Baja California. B. melanopygus is one of the earliest bumble bee species in the season to begin nesting and producing males. Like all bumble bees. B. melanopygus is an important pollinator and lives in a number of habitat types, including agricultural and urban areas.
why species was selected
Although B. melanopygus is relatively abundant in California and is not considered threatened, it appears to be undergoing changes in range in the state. North American bumble bee species are generally threatened by habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.
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