Bombus mesomelas Gerstaecker 1869

Bombus mesomelas Gerstaecker, 1869

This mountain species spreads in southern Alps, the Caucasus, Turkey and Elburs. On the Iberian Peninsula it occurs in Cantabrian Range, Sierra Cebollera and Sierra de los Ancares and in the Pyrenees, between 1200 and 2900 m of altitude, in open areas and forest areas cleared of fir, oak and beech (Ornosa & Ortiz-Sánchez 2004). At present it has been collected in the Pyrenees in forest pastures, with patches of subalpine and temperate-oceanic Pyrenean forest, between 1440 and 2800 m (Fig. 7) on Asarina procumbens Mill., Centaurea scabiosa L., Cirsium acaule (L.) Scop., Cirsium monspessulanum (L.) Hill, Eryngium bourgatii Gouan, Lotus corniculatus L., Medicago sativa L., Origanum vulgare L., Rhododendron ferreugineum L., Taraxacum officinale Wigg., Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium repens L. and Vicia cracca L.

According to the current data, this species exhibits greater elevational tendency (Fig. 7) and the most of the samples were collected above 1650 m. It seems to be locally abundant and it is not regarded as being scarce or threatened (Table 2). In the IUCN European Red List it is considered as Least Concern despite the regression observed in lower mountain regions of central Europe (Rasmont et al. 2015).

New records. Andorra: Soldeu, 28- VII-2006, 1 worker, C. Ornosa leg., UCME.

Spain: Girona: Camprodón, ski resort, 23- VII-2009, 7 workers, C. Ornosa leg.; 8 - VII-2015, 2 queens, 1 worker, F. Torres leg.; UCME; La Molina, La Pobla road, 25- VII-2009, 2 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; La Molina, Alabaus, 9- VII-2015, 1 worker, F. Torres leg., UCME La Molina road, 25 - VII-2009, 5 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; La Molina, ski resort, 25- VII-2009, 2 males, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Nùria, Bosc de la Verge, 24- VII- 2009, 2 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Nùria, Pic de l´Àliga, 24- VII-2009, 1 queen, 5 workers; 10- VII-2015, 1 queen, 3 workers; C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Tosas pass, 4- VII-2012, 1 queen, P. Vargas leg., UCME; Huesca: Cerler, 13- VII-2011, 1 queen, 1 worker, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Baños de Benasque, 14- VII-2011, 1 worker, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Formigal, 9- VII-2009, 2 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; La Besurta, Ibón de Villamorta, 15- VII- 2011, 1 queen, 3 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Ordesa, Gradas de Soaso, 10- VII-2013, 1 queen; C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Las Cutas track, 11- VII-2013, 2 queens, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; San Nicolás de Bujaruelo, 9- VIII-2014, 2 workers, P. De la Rúa leg., UMU; Vallibierna, 15- VII-2011, 4 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME. Lleida: Artiga de Lin, 14- VIII-2012, 3 workers; 15- VIII-2012, 16 workers; P. De la Rúa leg., UMU; Baqueira-Ruda, 27- VII-2006, 1 worker, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Espot, 25- VII-2006, 1 worker, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; La Bonaigua, La Peülla, 27- VII-2006, 3 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Ruda track, 10- VII-2014, 1 queen, 1 worker, C. Ornosa leg., UCME. Navarra: Abodi pass, 11 - VII-2009, 2 workers, C. Ornosa leg., UCME; Alto de Belagua, 11- VII-2009, 1 queen, C. Ornosa leg., UCME.