Integrative taxonomic analysis to reveal the species status of Bombus flavidus, combining COI and nuclear sequencing, wing morphometrics and secretions used for mate attraction as well as patterns of color polymorphism

Bumble bees, due to their morphological monotony and color diversity, have presented difficulties with species delimitation. Recent bumble bee declines have made it ever more imperative to resolve the status of species to address conservation concerns. Some of the taxa found to be most threatened are the often-rare socially parasitic bumble bees, which have additional trophic requirements. Among the socially parasitic bumble bees, Bombus flavidus Eversmann has contentious species status. While multiple separate species allied with Bombus flavidus have been suggested, until recently, recognition of two species, a Nearctic Bombus fernaldae (Franklin) and Palearctic B. flavidus, was favoured. Limited genetic data, however, suggested that even these could be a single widespread species, B. flavidus. We addressed the species status of this lineage using an integrative taxonomic approach, combining COI and nuclear sequencing, wing morphometrics and secretions used for mate attraction. We also...