A taxonomic re-assessment of the widespread oriental bumblebee Bombus flavescens (Hymenoptera, Apidae)
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Thanoosing, Chawatat
Orr, Michael
Warrit, Natapot
Vogler, Alfried
Williams, Paul
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Bombus flavescens Smith is one of the most widespread bumblebee species in the Oriental region. Due to colour polymorphisms, this species or species-complex has been a challenge for taxonomy. This study aims to assess the taxonomic status of the flavescens-complex using evidence from COI barcodes and morphology. We then reconstruct its biogeographic history from a phylogenetic analysis of populations across the current range, combining COI with 16S and nuclear PEPCK data. Despite a large range of polymorphisms across its distribution, the results show that B. flavescens is a single species based on algorithmic species delimitation methods, and it is clearly separated from its sister species, B. rotundiceps Friese. We suggest that B. flavescens diverged from its sister lineage in the Himalaya and dispersed into Southeast Asia in the Pleistocene. Conservation of the widespread B. flavescens will need to consider its several unique island populations.
Date Issued
2023-06-22
Date Acceptance
2023-06-08
Citation
Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2023, 96, pp.507-541
ISSN
1070-9428
Publisher
Pensoft Publishers
Start Page
507
End Page
541
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Volume
96
Copyright Statement
© 2023 Chawatat Thanoosing et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
(CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
(CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
License URL
Publication Status
Published