27. Bombus (Thoracobombus) schrencki Morawitz

(Figs 56, 57)

Bombus Schrencki Morawitz, 1881:250 .

Material examined. 1 queen, 39 workers, 24 males (IAB).

Distribution in North China. Primarily on the Bashang plateau, the Taihangshan mountains, and the Great Khingan mountains. Common at medium to high elevations of the Wutaishan forest park in Shanxi, at medium elevations of the Huanggangliang forest park of the southernmost Great Khingan mountains in Keshiketeng, Neimenggu, and at low elevations of the northernmost Great Khingan mountains in Genhe, Neimenggu. Rare at medium elevations of the Bashang plateau in northern Hebei, at medium elevations of the Pangquangou nature reserve of the Lvliangshan mountains in northern Shanxi, at medium elevations of the loess plateau in southern Ningxia, and at low elevations of the Moerdaoga forest park, the transition zone between the Hulunbeir grasslands and the Great Khingan mountains forests in northeastern Neimenggu. 19 localities (Fig. 56) between 593–3056 m (IAB).

Similar species in North China. This species is similar in its brown colour pattern to B. pascuorum, B. hedini, B. tricornis and B. atripes (see the key; Figs 55, 57, 59, 69, 71).

Distribution in China. Hebei, Shanxi, Neimenggu, Jinling, Heilongjiang, Ningxia, Xinjiang (IAB). Forage plants. ASTERACEAE: Chrysanthemum chanetii, Cirsium leo, Helianthus annuus, Ixeris polycephala, Leontopodium omeiense, Saussurea purpurascens, Serratula coronata; CAMPANULACEAE: Adenophora wawreana; CRASSULACEAE: Orostachys fimbriata; DIPSACACEAE: Scabiosa comosa; FABACEAE: Vicia unijuga; LAMIACEAE: Elsholtzia densa, E. stauntonii; ROSACEAE: Potentilla fruticosa .