Bombus inexspectatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bombus inexspectatus |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bombus
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| Species: |
inexspectatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Agrobombus inexspectatus (Tkalcu, 1963) |
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The Bombus inexspectatus is a special kind of bumblebee that lives in Europe. It's an endangered species, which means there aren't many of them left, and they need our help to survive. This bumblebee is quite unique because it doesn't build its own nest or collect its own food. Instead, it lives like a guest in the home of another bumblebee species!
Where it Lives and Its Home
This rare bumblebee can be found in parts of Europe, including Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. It loves to live in high mountains, especially on the sunny, southern slopes. You can find it in open areas and near the edges of forests in places like the Alps and the Cantabrian Mountains.
Scientists think that Bombus inexspectatus used to live in more places. But as the climate changed, it became limited to these cool mountaintop areas. This is called a relict species, meaning it's a leftover from a time when its habitat was more widespread. Its populations are also spread out and not connected, like islands of bees.
How it Lives: A Social Parasite
This bumblebee is very unusual because it's a social parasite. This means it doesn't have its own worker bees, and it can't create its own colony. Instead, it lives inside the nest of another bumblebee species. Think of it like a houseguest who never leaves!
The Bombus inexspectatus lives inside the nest of the red-shanked bumblebee (Bombus ruderarius). The host bumblebees do all the work. They build the nest, collect food, and raise the young. Bombus inexspectatus can't even make the wax needed for nests, and it doesn't have the special "pollen baskets" on its legs that most bumblebees use to carry pollen.
Because it must rely on another species to survive, it's called an obligate social parasite. Some parasites can live on their own if they need to, but not this one. It's completely dependent on its host. Interestingly, this bee seems to have developed this parasitic lifestyle on its own, separate from other parasitic bees like the cuckoo bees.
Scientists have noticed that Bombus inexspectatus looks very similar to its host, Bombus ruderarius. This close relationship between a parasite and its host is sometimes called Emery's rule. For now, the red-shanked bumblebee is the only known host for Bombus inexspectatus, but there might be others out there.
Protecting This Bee
The Bombus inexspectatus is listed as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List. This means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
There are a few reasons why this bee is in trouble:
- Rare and Spread Out: It's already naturally rare, and its populations are far apart, making it harder for them to recover.
- Shrinking Homes: The high mountain habitats it needs are getting smaller because of climate change. As temperatures rise, the areas suitable for these bees shrink.
- Host Problems: Since it depends entirely on the red-shanked bumblebee, if the host species' population goes down, the Bombus inexspectatus will also suffer.
Protecting this unique parasitic bumblebee means protecting its mountain homes and its host species.
