About Bombus ephippiatus Say, 1837
Bombus ephippiatus Say, 1837 is a bumblebee species native to Mexico and Central America. It is a variable species with multiple color polymorphisms; its body hairs occur in shades of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black. The species boundaries for Bombus ephippiatus are not entirely clear. Some of its forms are similar to Bombus wilmattae, and the two may actually be the same species. There may also be similar specimens in this bee's range that belong to an as yet undescribed species. This bee forages on many types of flowers, and it is active year-round in some areas. It generally lives in pine-oak forest and other types of mountain forest habitat. Its restriction to high-elevation regions may have created physical isolation that led to the evolution of its many color polymorphisms. It is an efficient pollinator of tomato plants. A potential threat to this species is the overcollection of wild queens for use in agricultural operations.
