PHEROMONAL AND ENZYME GENETIC-CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BOMBUS-LUCORUM SPECIES COMPLEX IN NORTHERN EUROPE

Spatial and temporal distribution of the species in the Bombus lucorum species complex, B. lucorum (L.), B. cryptarum (Fabricius) and B. mag nus Vogt, were studied in Finland. Morphological distinction between t he species is not as clear as in Central Europe, but B. lucorum can be distinguished from the other two with the help of enzyme genetic mark ers. B. lucorum is the most common of the three species in most of Fin land, and B. cryptarum is abundant in the southwestern coastal area an d in northern Lapland. B. magnus was only rarely found among the sprin g queens in southwestern Finland, and its range possibly restricts to southern and central parts of Finland. A comparison of the chemical co mposition of the male labial glands and enzyme genotypes shows that ma les produce species-specific marking pheromones.