Herein I summarize what is known about Cockerell's bumblebee, Bombus cockerelli Franklin, a New Mexican bumblebee species whose existence has been largely overlooked for decades because of a combination of rarity, geographic restriction, and taxonomic confusion. It is noteworthy that the known distribution covers only about 777 km2, giving it the smallest known range of any bumblebee in the world. There are 34 known specimens, and I present historical details regarding their collection (dates, places, and host plants), deposition, and identification; hopefully, this information will allow others to locate additional specimens of this species. It is further notable that most of the known specimens are late-season queens, and males remain unknown, suggesting that the species may nest and forage in areas of dense forest.
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Southwestern Entomologist
Vol. 38 • No. 3
September 2013
Vol. 38 • No. 3
September 2013