Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee (also Island Cuck

Bombus insularis

General Status Rank: 
Secure
Common Name: 
Indiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble Bee (also Island Cuck
Scientific Name: 
Bombus insularis
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Hymenoptera (Bee)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Arthropoda
Class: 
Insecta
Order: 
Hymenoptera
Family: 
Apidae
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains
References: 
H237

Distribution

In Canada known from YT, NT, BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS and NL. The species is a cuckoo bee, with recorded hosts B. appositus; B. bifarius; B. fervidus; B. flavifrons; B. nevadensis; B. pensylvanicus; B. rufocinctus; B. ternarius; B. terricola; B. occidentalis. The species has numerous records from across its range. In the United States, the species occurs on the Pacific coast east to New England; rare in the eastern United States and occurs primarily near the Canadian border. Found in multiple ecozones across Canada.
Score: 
FG
References: 
HSS010

Number of Occurrences

2: Hay River NT 60.817 -115.783 CNC/GBIF, Yellowknife , 2 (DD14);
Score: 
AD
References: 
H237
HSS010
DD14

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
References: 
HSS010
Population

Population Size

Population size unknown, not possible to estimate.
References: 
HSS010
Trends

Trends

Short-term trend: Presumably stable.
Score: 
G
References: 
HSS010
Threats

Threats

References: 
HSS010

Intrinsic Vulnerability

The species is found in numerous ecozones with differing scope, severity and timing of threats. Within areas of high human habitation, threats to bees centre around the loss of floral resources and nest sites. Cumulative threats include habitat conversion, increased pesticide use, invasive non-native species, fire suppression resulting in natural succession of otherwise open habitats (e.g., sand ecoystems, meadow habitats, etc), climate change (including increased drought), livestock overgrazing, etc. These threats may not applicable to portions of ecozones with large natural areas. Species specific threats are unstudied for most bees.
Score: 
C
References: 
HSS010
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
The species is a cuckoo bee, with recorded hosts B. appositus; B. bifarius; B. fervidus; B. flavifrons; B. nevadensis; B. pensylvanicus; B. rufocinctus; B. ternarius; B. terricola; B. occidentalis. Its known hosts are in subgenera wher some are declining (B. occidentalis, B. pensylvanicus) while the remainder do not appear to be declining. - The species is our most common cuckoo bee, with recorded hosts B. appositus; B. bifarius; B. fervidus; B. flavifrons; B. nevadensis; B. pensylvanicus; B. rufocinctus; B. ternarius; B. terricola; B. occidentalis. Its known hosts are in subgenera wher some are declining (B. occidentalis, B. pensylvanicus) while the remainder do not appear to be declining.
S Rank: 
S3S5
Decision Process Description: 
Draft rank by Sheila Colla and Cory Sheffield of York University (2010); Reviewed in 2014 by C Sheffield, Reviewed in 2020 by C Sheffield, modified from undetermined to secure (more information)
Last Updated: 
November 21, 2020

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Ecozones

  • Sheffield, Cory (2009) NWT Bees - Distribution Data April 2009. E-mail to S Carriere 06/07/2010 from corysheffield@yahoo.ca. Excel attachment with lat long from labels of bees collected in the NWT (mostly from CNC) printed copy in binder - H237 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Sheffield, Cory (2009) NWT Bees - Distribution Data April 2009. E-mail to S Carriere 06/07/2010 from corysheffield@yahoo.ca. Excel attachment with lat long from labels of bees collected in the NWT (mostly from CNC) printed copy in binder - H237 Return
  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return
  • Dumesh s., Sheffield, CS and Richardson Leif. (2012) NWT bee database with ranks (version June 2012).. e-copy available - DD14 Return

Population Size

Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Range Extent

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return

Threats

  • Hebert, Remi (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS bees and GS bees - Abeilles SG with ranks proposed by Cory Sheffield and Jennifer Heron (07/08/2014). - HSS010 Return