About Bombus nevadensis Cresson, 1874
This species is a bumblebee with a long proboscis (tongue) and short, dense fur. Females, which include both queens and workers, have an entirely black head, while males have yellow coloring on the face and top of the head. The thorax is yellow, and sometimes has a hairless black spot in its center. The first three abdominal segments (called terga) are yellow, and the remaining part of the abdomen is black. In males, the tip of the abdomen is more or less red. Average body length for queens is 20 mm (0.79 in), 17 mm (0.67 in) for workers, and 14 mm (0.55 in) for males. The black and gold bumblebee, Bombus auricomus, is sometimes treated as a subspecies of this species, classified as B. nevadensis auricomus. However, both genetic and morphological evidence supports that these are two separate species. This species lives in open areas including prairies and meadows. It typically nests underground. Its known food plants are milkvetches, thistles, melilots, bergamot, penstemons, phacelias, salvias, betony, and clovers.
