Bombus cryptarum
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~60%
Bombus cryptarum is a species of bumblebee. It is native to the northern hemisphere, where it is "one of the most widespread bumblebees in the world." It occurs throughout Europe, Asia, and western North America. It is known commonly as the cryptic bumblebee.
The complete distribution of the species is unclear due to taxonomic uncertainties. It is part of a species complex of several bees in the subgenus Bombus sensu stricto, which are very similar and difficult to tell apart.
It has only recently been identified in the British Isles. Bombus cryptarum differs from Bombus magnus phylogenetically and in labial gland secretions. Bombus cryptarum florilegus, an endangered subspecies in Japan, had previously been identified as having a close relationship with Bombus lucorum. Bombus cryptarum florilegus was found to have low genetic diversity in Japan and maintained their own population with immigration from Notsuke Peninsula to the Chishima (Kuril) Islands
In northern areas this bee lives on plains, especially in heather ecosystems. In southern regions it can be found in mountain habitat. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Denali National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Kluane National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Jasper National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Elk Island National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cryptic Bumble Bee sighting in Edmonton on a given day, based on 165 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 12th most-seen of the 390 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Cryptic Bumble Bee in Edmonton on a given day, against under 5% in October to March, the lowest months. That is one of Edmonton's wettest months, with about 95 mm of rain against 20 mm in February.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Cryptic Bumble Bee sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Cryptic Bumble Bee sightings, Edmonton ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Calgary (Canada, about 20%).
Same genus: Bombus
The closest relatives of the Cryptic Bumble Bee that you can see in Edmonton (genus Bombus, Bumble Bees) are Red-Belted Bumble Bee (about 20%), Perplexing Bumble Bee (about 20%) and Tricolored Bumble Bee (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Cryptic Bumble Bee is recorded against all the insects logged in Edmonton (165 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
