Chromosome numbers of 15 North American bumble bee species (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombini)

Abstract

Chromosome counts were obtained for 14 Bombus Latr. species (the social bumble bees) belonging to four subgenera and for one Psithyrus Lep. species (the social parasitic bumble bees). In Bombus the haploid numbers were consistent within each subgenus and there was variation between subgenera; the subgenera Bombus s.s. and Pyrobombus have n = 18, while Separatobombus and Cullumanobombus have n = 19. Thus considerable morphological divergence between subgenera is often, but not always, paralleled by divergence in chromosome number. Psithyrus ashtoni has n = 25, higher than all Bombus species yet examined. This provides support for the monophyletic origin of Psithyrus, but the high n is not expected if eusociality selects for increase in chromosome number.