Bombus cryptarum
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
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 Elk Island National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 97th most-seen of the 112 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Cryptic Bumble Bee in Elk Island National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July and September–April, the lowest months. That is one of Elk Island National Park's wettest months, with about 75 mm of rain against 20 mm in December.
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.
5th of 6
Of the 6 parks where we can rate Cryptic Bumble Bee sightings, Elk Island National Park ranks 5th at about 10%. The best odds are in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (United States, about 40%), Denali National Park (United States, about 30%) and Kluane National Park (Canada, about 20%).
Same genus: Bombus
The closest relatives of the Cryptic Bumble Bee that you can see in Elk Island National Park (genus Bombus, Bumble Bees) are Tricolored Bumble Bee (about 30%), Half-Black Bumble Bee (about 10%) and Northern Amber Bumble Bee (about 10%), 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 Elk Island National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
