Bombus cryptarum
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
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 |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Cryptic Bumble Bee sighting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 27 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Cryptic Bumble Bee in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park on a given day, against about 10% in May and September, the lowest months. October to March have too few records to rate.
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.
Yes
Of the 6 parks where we can rate Cryptic Bumble Bee sightings, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come 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 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (genus Bombus, Bumble Bees) are Forest Bumble Bee (about 50%), McKay's Western Bumble Bee (about 40%) and Yellow-Fronted Bumble Bee (about 40%), 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 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (20 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.
