24. Bombus (Thoracobombus) deuteronymus Schulz

(Figs 50, 51)

Bombus senilis Smith, 1879:131 (not of Fabricius, 1775:382, = B. pascuorum (Scopoli)) . Bombus deuteronymus Schulz, 1906:267, replacement name for senilis Smith, 1879:131 . Agrobombus superequester Skorikov, 1926:116, by indication of Skorikov, 1914:405.

Material examined. 1 queen, 75 workers, 12 males (IAB).

Distribution in North China. Primarily on the Bashang plateau, the northeastern Neimenggu, and the edge of the east Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Common at low to medium elevations of the Bashang plateau in northern Hebei, at low elevations of the Nenjiang river valley in northeastern Neimenggu, and at medium to high elevations of edge of the east Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in Gansu. Rare at medium elevations of the Taihangshan mountains in Hebei and Shanxi, at medium elevations of the Huanggangliang forest park of the southernmost of the Great Khingan mountains, at low elevations of the Hulunbeir grasslands in northeastern Neimenggu, and at medium elevations of the Maijishan forest park in Gansu. 24 localities (Fig. 50) between 215–2872 m (IAB).

Similar species in North China. This species is very similar in its grey colour pattern to B. humilis and B. pseudobaicalensis (see the key; Figs 51, 53, 61).

Distribution in China. Hebei, Shanxi, Neimenggu, Heilongjiang, Gansu, Qinghai (IAB).

Forage plants. ASTERACEAE: Cirsium leo, Helianthus annuus, Saussurea sp., Sinacalia tangutica; CAMPANULACEAE: Adenophora potaninii; FABACEAE: Astragalus bhotanensis, Lespedeza bicolor, L. floribunda, Melilotus officinalis; LAMIACEAE: Caryopteris tangutica, Dracocephalum heterophyllum; RANUNCULACEAE: Aconitum gymnandrum; SCROPHULARIACEAE: Pedicularis semitorta .