Bombus pullatus

Description

Bombus pullatus is a species of bumblebee native to Mexico and Central America. This species occurs in lowlands and in mountains. It builds its nests underground, on the surface, or in plants. It has been observed constructing nests in the leaves of a banana tree, in piles of vegetation on the ground, and amongst the roots of a coffee plant. The colony can occupy one nest for a long time, maintaining and renovating it as necessary. One old nest was observed to contain both the bee colony and a colony of the leafcutter ant Acromyrmex octospinosus, which was occupying cells along the edge that had been abandoned by the bee. This bee can be rare in parts of its range with wet tropical climates because it is difficult to find a suitable dry nesting site and maintain it in such moist conditions. This bee forages on many kinds of plants, including Miconia sp., Monochaetum sp., Solanum sp. Mimosa sp., and Spermacoce sp.