Bombus (Megabombus) argillaceus (Scopoli, 1763) (fig. 27.2)

Distribution: PALAEARCTIC: Eastern Mediterranean distribution, stretching north to Czech Republic (Rasmont & Iserbyt 2010–2014) east to Russia, and south to Israel (Ascher & Pickering 2021).

Widespread in Lebanon from sea level to 2500 m of altitude and found in a wide range of habitats (Boustani et al. 2020). Local distribution fig. 17.3

Unpublished records. BDFGM: 1938, sex unknown, Reinig WF; Bcharre, VI.1977, 1♀, det. Campo & Rasmont, KLZR, coll . OOLL (mentioned in Boustani et al. 2020).

Material examined. Mount Lebanon: Dahr Al Baydar, 17.VII.1973, 1 W, Sawfar, 1973, 1W, Bhamdoun, 28.IV.1975, 1♀, all coll. AUB; Arsoun, 2.V.2016, 1♀, leg. Boustani M., Kyrk S; Aintoura, Bkerki Valley, 8.V.2017, 1♀, leg. Nemeth T., all coll. MBOU. Additional 5W and 9♂ from 6 records collected between 14.VI.2017, and 15.VIII.2019, from Baskinta, Qornayel, Akoura, Mazraat Al Daher, Souk El Ghareb, and Maaser Al Chouf .

N. Lebanon: Horch Ehden, 1567 m, 19.VI.2016, 1♀, leg. Boustani M.; Arz Bcharre, 1928 m, 20.VI.2016, 1♀, leg. Boustani M., all coll. MBOU. Additional 10♀, 37W, and 12♂ from 36 records, collected between 2.V.2017 and 31.VII.2019, from Horch Ehden, Hadath El Jebbeh, Harissa, Horch Ehden, Arz Bcharre, Arz Tannourine, Horch Ehden, Bcharre, and Qanat .

S. Lebanon: Hilaliyah, 6.IV.1975, 1♀; Nahr Al Zahrani, 8.VI.1985, 1W, leg. Usayran W., all coll. AUB .

Flower records. Asteraceae: Centaurea solstitialis; Caprifoliaceae: Cephalaria setosa Caryophyllaceae: Dianthus strictus; Fabaceae: Ononis natrix, Phlomis chrysophylla, Vicia canescens, Vicia tenuifolia, Vicia villosa; Lamiaceae: Marrubium libanoticum, Salvia microstegia, Scutellaria brevibracteata, Stachys ehrenbergii; Plantaginaceae: Linaria aucheri; Ranunculaceae: Delphinium ithaburense .