30. Bombus (Thoracobombus) remotus (Tkalců)

(Figs 62, 63)

Megabombus (Agrobombus) remotus Tkalců, 1968:45.

Material examined. 6 queens, 444 workers, 61 males (IAB).

Distribution in North China. Primarily on the southern loess plateau, the Qin-Ba mountains in southern Gansu and southern Shaanxi. Abundant at medium elevations of the Maijishan forest park, the Xiaolongshan nature reserve and the Baishuijiang nature reserve in southern Gansu. Common at medium elevations of the Liupanshan nature reserve in southern Ningxia and the Qinling mountains in southern Shaanxi. Rare at medium elevations of the Taihangshan mountains in Shanxi, the Dabashan mountains in Shaanxi, and the Zhagana nature reserve of the edge of the east Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in Gansu. 49 localities (Fig. 62) between 885–2766 m (IAB).

Similar species in North China. This species is similar in its yellow-grey colour pattern to some, B. picipes, B. infrequens and B. wangae (see the key; Figs 63, 109, 111, 117).

Distribution in China. Shanxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia (IAB).

Forage plants. ASTERACEAE: Arctium lappa, Cirsium leo, C. monocephalum, Erigeron annuus, Tagetes patula; BUDDLEJACEAE: Buddleja officinalis; CLUSIACEAE: Hypericum perforatum; FABACEAE: Campylotropis macrocarpa, Lespedeza bicolor, Melilotus albus, Trifolium pratense, T. repens, Vicia cracca; LAMIACEAE: Nepeta cataria, Phlomis umbrosa, Verbena officinalis; RANUNCULACEAE: Anemone tomentosa.