NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORDS OF CUCKOO BUMBLEBEES IN BULGARIA
BILYANA STOYKOVA, ALBENA LAPEVA-GJONOVA*
Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria
* Corresponding author: gjonova@abv.bg
Keywords: Bombus, Psithyrus, distribution, Bulgaria
Abstract: Subgenus Psithyrus (genus Bombus) includes cuckoo bee species that are specialized as obligate social parasites in colonies of the true bumblebee species. They have lost the ability to collect pollen and to rear their brood. As such, these bees do not establish their own nests, but instead, invade the host colonies, kill or subdue the foundress and use the resident worker forces. In contrast to the remainders of the genus Bombus, Psithyrus species have no worker caste.
Seven cuckoo bee species occur in Bulgaria, although collected data are old and from only few locations. In the current study we present new distribution records of Psithyrus species in Bulgaria.