Bumblebees with big teeth: revising the subgenus Alpigenobombus with the good, the bad and the ugly of numts (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Author Williams, Paul H. 38A45E0C-02A8-407E-8E89-5162D454E9FE Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW 7 5 BD, UK. paw@nhm.ac.uk Author An, Jiandong 5888DB6A-35E2-4A19-8DCE-4FAD4C5BCB83 Institute of Apicultural Research (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences), 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian, Beijing 100093, China. anjiandong@caas.cn Author Dorji, Phurpa 86E9789F-3441-4BD9-AF4C-B0A06B3CA20A Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), Thimphu, Bhutan. pdorji@rspnbhutan.org Author Huang, Jiaxing B74E0C77-CB13-45E2-B630-09316BD721A6 Institute of Apicultural Research (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences), 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian, Beijing 100093, China. huangjiaxing@caas.cn Author Jaffar, Saleem 77F70375-0A19-4D0E-A05A-987BB46543C0 South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. saleemjaffar@stu.scau.edu.cn Author Japoshvili, George CCC82B7C-A1E4-4D58-90A3-623116CBAE96 Agricultural University of Georgia, 240 Agmashenebli Alley, Tbilisi, Georgia. g.japoshvili@agruni.edu.ge Author Narah, Jaya C91059E3-71FB-4765-988E-436DD86FC435 Rajiv Gandhi University, Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh 791112, India. & National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India. jayan@ncbs.res.in Author Ren, Zongxin 27B9DD39-62A8-44D3-9D6A-E6C20D8AAA27 Kunming Institute of Botany (Chinese Academy of Sciences), 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China. renzongxin@mail.kib.ac.cn Author Streinzer, Martin 637BA7A7-3035-4C13-92ED-A75030A46E13 University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. martin.streinzer@univie.ac.at Author Thanoosing, Chawatat 6F4C150C-BC03-4F75-91A6-2A8AF6B5905C Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW 7 5 BD, UK. c.thanoosing@nhm.ac.uk Author Tian, Li 9FE6282D-F647-4059-8900-8D2ACD49DA5C China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. ltian@cau.edu.cn Author Orr, Michael C. AF163A4E-A2C2-4675-9732-C85C04702FF7 Institute of Zoology (Chinese Academy of Sciences), 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing 100101, China. & Staatliches Museum f ̧ r Naturkunde Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany. michael.christopher.orr@gmail.com text European Journal of Taxonomy 2023 2023-09-27 892 1 1 65 https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2283/9851 journal article 273558 10.5852/ejt.2023.892.2283 f9b457af-ea60-4812-9bed-ed48423af33e 2118-9773 8382675 07D215E7-FB43-4640-BB5B-D1AF50269AF1 9. Bombus ( Alpigenobombus ) breviceps Smith, 1852 Figs 7–8 , 76‒93 , 114 Bombus nasutus Smith, 1852: 44 . Bombus breviceps Smith. 1852: 44 . Note 1. Bombus dentatus Handlirsch, 1888: 227 . Bombus simulus Gribodo, 1892: 114 . Bombus Channicus Gribodo. 1892: 116 . Bombus laticeps Friese, 1905: 513 . Bombus orichalceus Friese, 1916: 107 . Bombus channicus var. [subsp.] brevigenalis Friese, 1918: 81 . BOMBUS RUFOCOGNITUS Cockerell, 1922: 4 . Bombus ( Alpigenobombus ) dentatus [subsp.] pretiosus Bischoff, 1936: 11 , not of Friese 1911a: 572 (= B. polaris Curtis ). Bombus ( Alpigenobombus ) channicus [subsp.] cantonensis Bischoff, 1936: 14 . Alpigenobombus breviceps [subsp.] coloricontrarius Tkalců, 1968: 14 . Alpigenobombus breviceps [subsp.] colorilaetus Tkalců, 1968: 14 . Alpigenobombus breviceps [subsp.] vicinus Tkalců, 1968: 21 . Alpigenobombus breviceps [subsp.] bischoffiellus Tkalců, 1977: 224 . Replacement name for Bombus ( Alpigenobombus ) dentatus [subsp.] pretiosus Bischoff, 1936 . Bombus rufocognitus var. [not subsp.] nefandus ‒ Cockerell 1931: 6 , infrasubspecific. Bremus ( Alpigenobombus ) dentatus var. [not subsp.] concinnus ‒ Frison 1935: 352 , infrasubspecific. Bremus ( Alpigenobombus ) dentatus var. [not subsp.] surdus ‒ Frison 1935: 353 , infrasubspecific. Bremus ( Alpigenobombus ) orichalceus var. [not subsp.] conjunctus ‒ Frison 1935: 355 , infrasubspecific. NOTE 1. Acceptance of B. breviceps as the valid name in preference to B. nasutus follows Tkalců (1968) as the First Reviser ( ICZN 1999 : Article 24). Species-taxon concept and variation The taxon concept of the species B. breviceps here agrees with the long-standing interpretation (Williams 2022a) that it is separate from the taxon concepts of other species in the subgenus Alpigenobombus , based on: (1) our PTP analysis supports independent species-level coalescents in the COI gene ( Fig. 12 ); corroborated by (2) diagnostic morphological character states (see the keys). The PTP and morphological results ( Fig. 12 , keys) support the interpretation that B. breviceps and B. genalis are separate species. The available COI-barcode-like sequences may all be low-divergence neonumts ( Fig. 11 ). The PTP and morphological results ( Fig. 12 , keys) support and confirm the interpretation that the divergent colour patterns of the taxa breviceps s. str. , channicus , and dentatus are conspecific as parts of the species B. breviceps ( Tkalců 1968 ; Williams et al. 2009 ; Hines & Williams 2012 ). Variation in the colour-pattern diagrams of B. breviceps in Figs 76‒93 is arranged for the black-thorax Himalayan individuals approximately from west (Kashmir) to east ( Myanmar ) and for the orange-banded Chinese and Southeast Asian individuals from north (Gansu) to south ( Thailand ). Bombus breviceps , with the black-thorax colour pattern in the west (Himalaya) and centre (Hengduan) of its range (Figs 76‒80, 85‒89) and the orange-banded colour pattern in the south-east (Southeast Asia: Figs 81‒84, 90‒93), appears to mimic the abundant B. ( Orientalibombus ) haemorrhoidalis Smith, 1852 , and B. ( Megabombus ) montivagus Smith, 1878 ( Williams 2007 : fig. 5h–i). The black-tailed colour patterns occur on the India / Myanmar border (Figs 80, 89) and in southern China (Figs 82‒83, 91‒92). Type material Bombus breviceps Smith, 1852: 44 . Holotype by monotypy: ♀ ( worker ) Zhejiang , China ( NHMUK ). Examined . Morphological diagnosis Female Wings very darkly clouded with brown with the veins dark brown, hair short, oculo-malar area shorter than broad, clypeus in its central area with many small punctures (cf. B. genalis , B. grahami ); hair of the thoracic dorsum black, often with orange bands anteriorly and posteriorly, hair of T1 yellow. Male Wings very darkly clouded with brown with the veins dark brown, hair short; genitalia ( Fig. 114 ) with the gonostylus nearly equally short on both its outer side and its inner side but with the distal lobe projecting inwards as a long narrowly pointed almost spine-like process, rounded in section (cf. B. genalis , B. grahami ). Material sequenced in Fig. 12 BHUTAN • 1 ♀ (worker); Trashigang , Doksum ; 27.4377° N , 91.5833° E ; 23 May 2017 ; W. Klein leg.; PW seq: NBC10098; RMNH : AG#149 . CHINA • 1 ♁; Zhejiang , [Huangjiaotang]; 28.805° N , 120.961° E ; GenBank seq: FJ175356; SC: AG#069 . THAILAND • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Inthanon ; 18.545° N , 98.516° E ; 10 Aug. 2016 ; C. Sinpoo leg.; GenBank seq: MF582612; BEEP : AG#155 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Inthanon ; 18.554° N , 98.582° E ; 19 Jul. 2016 ; C. Sinpoo leg.; GenBank seq: MF582613; BEEP : AG#156 . Additional sequences in Fig. 10 and haplotype duplicates CHINA • 1 ♀ (worker); Zhejiang , Gaolaoshan ; 28.9043° N , 120.5496° E ; 4 Apr. 2021 ; Y. Chen leg.; CAU seq: TL01; CAU : AG#192 • 1 ♀ (worker); Gansu , Qingyugou ; 32.7734° N , 105.4137° E ; 23 Jun. 2021 ; Y. Chen leg.; CAU seq: TL02; CAU : AG#193 • 1 ♀ (worker); Guangdong , Nanxiang ; 24.7677° N , 113.5932° E ; 18 Jul. 2021 ; Y. Chen leg.; CAU seq: TL03; CAU : AG#194 • 1 ♀ (worker); Zhejiang , Pingding cun; 29.6615° N , 120.0088° E ; 1 Oct. 2020 ; L. Tian leg.; CAU seq: TL04; CAU : AG#195 • 1 ♀ (worker); Hunan , Dazhushan ; 26.1662° N , 110.1746° E ; 23 Jul. 2021 ; L. Tian leg.; CAU seq: TL05; CAU : AG#196 • 1 ♀ (worker); Hunan , Nanshan ; 26.1513° N , 110.1644° E ; 22 Jul. 2021 ; L. Tian leg.; CAU seq: TL06; CAU : AG#197 • 1 ♀ (worker); Gansu , Liushuwan ; 33.0474° N , 105.2562° E ; 21 Jun. 2021 ; Y. Chen leg.; CAU seq: TL07; CAU : AG#198 • 1 ♀ (worker); Guangdong , Nanxiang ; 24.7677° N , 113.5932° E ; 18 Jul. 2021 ; Y. Chen leg.; CAU seq: TL08; CAU : AG#199 • same collection data as for preceding; GenBank seq: KP259094; IOZ : AG#152 • same collection data as for preceding; GenBank seq: MF478986; IAR : AG#153 • Ningxia ; IAR seq: NX2; IAR : AG#093 . INDIA • 1 ♀ (worker); Arunachal Pradesh , Jang ; 27.5821° N , 91.9704° E ; 24 Sep. 2015 ; J. Neumayer leg.; NCBS BE653 seq: PWB6; NCBS : AG#041 . THAILAND • 1 ♀ ; Chiang Mai , Doi Inthanon ; 18.5893° N , 98.4859° E ; 21 Sep. 2006 ; Y. Areeluck leg.; BOLD seq: 3261H02; PCYU : AG#102 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Suthep ; 18.815° N , 98.4920° E ; 26 Jun. 2016 ; C. Sinpoo leg.; GenBank seq: MF582617; BEEP : AG#157 • 2 ♀♀ (workers); Chiang Mai , Doi Inthanon ; 18.543° N , 98.548° E ; 19 Jul. 2016 ; C. Sinpoo leg.; GenBank seq: MF582618, MF582619; BEEP : AG#158 , AG#159 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Inthanon ; 18.545° N , 98.516° E ; 10 Aug. 2016 ; C. Sinpoo leg.; GenBank seq: MF582622; BEEP : AG#160 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Inthanon ; 18.5892° N , 98.48872° E ; 21 Jul. 2015 ; N. Warrit et al . leg.; CT seq: CT540; CUNHM : AG#177 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Inthanon ; 18.5447° N , 98.5179° E ; 21 Jul. 2015 ; N. Warrit et al . leg.; CT seq: CT552; CUNHM : AG#178 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Khun Chang Khian ; 18.8387° N , 98.8965° E ; 18 Jul. 2015 ; N. Warrit et al . leg.; CT seq: CT607; CUNHM : AG#179 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Kiew Lom ; 19.3175° N , 98.6006° E ; 20 Nov. 2017 ; N. Warrit et al . leg.; CT seq: CT623; CUNHM : AG#180 • 1 ♀ (worker); Chiang Mai , Doi Ang Khang ; 19.8823° N , 99.0437° E ; 21 Nov. 2017 ; N. Warrit et al . leg.; CT seq: CT625; CUNHM : AG#181 . Global distribution One of the most widespread Oriental species, in the Himalaya, Hengduan, Central and southern China , and Southeast Asia: India (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh , Uttarakhand , Sikkim , Arunachal Pradesh ), Nepal , Bhutan , China ( Xizang , Yunnan , Sichuan , Gansu , Shaanxi , Chongqing , Hubei , Jiangxi , Hunan , Guizhou , Zhejiang , Fujian , Guangdong , Guangxi ), Myanmar , Vietnam , Laos , Thailand : BEEP, CAU, CUNHM, IAR, IOZ, MCSN, NCBS, NHMUK, PCYU, PW, RMNH, SC, USNM, ZMHB. This species is recorded at elevations of 484‒3000 m in the Himalaya ( Williams et al . 2010 ; Streinzer et al. 2019 ), and at 270‒3350 m in the Hengduan and in Shaanxi ( Williams et al . 2009 ; An et al . 2014 ). It is one of the few bumblebee species that occurs down to lower elevations in subtropical habitats, where it may be relatively common, even inside cities. However, in the warmer habitats it may be active only in the early morning and evening (Yunnan and Guangdong, PW pers. obs.; Thailand , C. Thanoosing pers. obs.). Behaviour Male eye very slightly enlarged relative to female eye, male mate-searching behaviour unknown.