Overview
Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini) is thought to have the most limited distribution of all known North American bumble bee species and one of the most limited geographic distributions of any bumble bee in the world. This species lives in an approximately 13,000 square mile area of the Klamath Mountain region of southern Oregon and northern California.
Franklin’s bumble bees are short-tongued, have a small head and their cheeks are shorter than they are wide. In the field, theycan be distinguished from similar species in their range by the inverted U-shape pattern of the yellow hairs on the anterior thorax that surrounds a central black patch and extends beyond the bases of the wings. Another distinguishing characteristic is the lack of yellow hairs on the abdomen.
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Characteristics
Habitat
They can be found in grassy coastal prairies and coast range mountain meadows, near seeps and other wet meadow environments. Habitat must include floral resources for nectaring throughout the colony cycle and relatively protected areas for breeding and sheltering.
Land on which the natural dominant plant forms are grasses and forbs.
Timeline
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