Research Article |
Corresponding author: Guillaume Ghisbain ( guillaume.ghisbain@umons.ac.be ) Academic editor: Thorleif Dörfel
© 2020 Guillaume Ghisbain, Paul H. Williams, Denis Michez, Michael G. Branstetter, Pierre Rasmont.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Ghisbain G, Williams PH, Michez D, Branstetter MG, Rasmont P (2020) Contribution to the knowledge of the bumblebee fauna of Afghanistan (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus Latreille). ZooKeys 973: 69-87. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.973.54796
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Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: genus Bombus Latreille, 1802) constitute an important group of pollinators for many wild plants and crops in north temperate regions and South America. Although knowledge of these insects has been increasing over the last decades, some geographic areas remain poorly studied and additions to the knowledge of their faunas are infrequent. Afghanistan is one example of a country that is currently underrepresented in the scientific literature despite its high species diversity. For this study, more than 420 new occurrence records were gathered for 17 bumblebee species belonging to all eight subgenera recorded in the country, including the first record of a species closely related to the B longipennis group. Additionally, the first standardized database for Afghan bees is launched, which we hope will be enriched in the future to allow further assessments of population trends for the bumblebees of Afghanistan. Finally, the previously published species records for the country are discussed considering the most recent taxonomic revisions of the genus and key perspectives are highlighted for further work in this understudied country and neighboring regions.
Asian bees, checklist, Pamir, pollinators, taxonomy
Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: genus Bombus) constitute a key group of widespread cold-adapted insects, substantially contributing to ecosystem services around the globe through the pollination of numerous wild plants and agricultural crops (
Although long-term and detailed data of bumblebee species are extensively documented in some parts of the world such as Europe (
After the contributions and faunal reviews of
The latest faunal review to date (
We studied the personal collections of the entomologists G. Ebert, H. Huss, C. Naumann, and W.F. Reinig (deposited in the University of Mons, UMONS, Belgium) as well as the museum collections of the Natural History Museum (
Finally, because a few of our specimens belong to the almost morphologically unidentifiable bumblebees from the subgenus Bombus s. str. (see
The subgenera are classified following the currently accepted phylogenetic relationships of the genus Bombus (
Locations in Afghanistan for which GPS coordinates could be assigned. Latitude (Lat.) and longitude (Long.) are given in decimal degrees and rounded to two decimal places. Site numbers correspond to the locations on the map in Figure
Labelled site name | Site number | Lat. (DD) and Long. (DD) | Approximate elevation (m a.s.l.) |
---|---|---|---|
Kotal-e-Asgharat E-Ste | 1 | 34.38N, 66.65E | 3200 |
Kotal-e-Narges, D.-e-Godar | 2 | 34.38N, 66.87E | 3150 |
Ghorghori-e-Panjao, Gaukhana | 3 | 34.38N, 67.02E | 2800 |
Pagmangebirge | 4 | 34.61N, 68.9E | 2800 |
Salang-Nord /Salang-Paß | 5 | 35.31N, 69.04E | 2100 |
Andarab | 6 | 35.67N, 69.32E | 4250 |
Upper Lezdi valley | 7 | 36.33N, 69.83E | 2240 |
Lezdi | 8 | 36.36N, 69.91E | 1560 |
Kwaja Muhammed | 9 | 36.41N, 70.58E | 3900 |
Shiva-See | 10 | 37.39N, 71.36E | 3100 |
Bala Kuran | 11 | 36.02N, 70.77E | 3200 |
Kotal-e-Wazir | 12 | 36.98N, 72.783E | 4400 |
Darrah-e-Istmotsh | 13 | 37.23N, 72.83E | 4300 |
Issiktal | 14 | 37.03N, 73.33E | 3500 |
Ptukh | 15 | 37.01N, 73.37E | 4900 |
Issik | 16 | 37.00N, 73.33E | 4200 |
Ahmad Diwana (Baba) | 17 | 35.91N, 71.3E | 2600 |
Bashgal river | 18 | 35.61N, 71.33E | 2900 |
Kamdesh | 19 | 35.75N, 71.25E | 3350 |
Badakshan, Anjuman Pass | 20 | 35.80N, 70.24E | 4200 |
Dar-e-Pandjshir, Kotal-e-Tal | 21 | 35.27N, 69.47E | 3800 |
Sarobi | 22 | 34.59N, 69.76E | 1100 |
Safed Koh, Kotkai | 23 | 34.01N, 69.71E | 2350 |
Map of Afghanistan and neighboring regions depicting the sampling examined as part of this study. Numbers correspond to the following locations: 1) Kotal-e-Asgharat; 2) Kotal-e-Narges, D-e-Godar; 3) Ghorghori-e-Panjao, Gaukhana; 4) Pagmangebirge; 5) Salang-Nord, vic. Khindjan / Salang-Paß; 6) Andarab; 7) upper Lezdi valley; 8) Lezdi; 9) Chodja-Mahomed [Kwaja Muhammed]; 10) Shiva-See; 11) Bala Kuran; 12) Kotal-e-Wazir; 13) Darrah-e-Istmotsh 14) Issiktal [Quellflur in Artemisia-Chenopodiensteppe]; 15) Ptukh; 16) Issik; 17) Ahmad Diwana (Baba); 18) Bashgal river; 19) Kamdesh, near Suingal/Shkurigal confluence; 20) Badakshan, Anjuman Pass; 21) Dar.-e-Pandjshir, Kotal-e-Tal; 22) Sarobi; 23) Safed Koh, Kotkai. GPS coordinates and altitude of these sites are given in Table
Kotal-e-Wazir, 07.viii.71, 4400 m, leg. C. Naumann (1♂) (UMONS) [12].
Palaearctic region.
Badakshan, Anjuman Pass, 12.viii.52 (1♀, 6☿☿), 13.viii.52 (1☿), 4200 m, leg. J. Klapperich (
Palaearctic region.
Hindu Kush, upper Lezdi valley, 21.viii.67, 2240 m, leg. D.K. Mardon, 36°20'N, 69°50'E (1☿) (
Palaearctic region.
C-Afghanistan, Prov. Ghor, Kotal-e-Asgharat E-Ste., 9.vii.1976, 3200 m, leg. C. Naumann (6☿☿) (UMONS) [1]; C-Afghanistan, Prov. Ghor, Kotal-e-Narges, West-Ste; D.-e-Godar, 09.vii.76, 3100–3200 m, leg. C. Naumann (1☿) (UMONS) [2]; E-Afghanistan, Dar-e-Pandjshir, Kotal-e-tal, 30.vii.73, 3800 m, M. N. Khoram (1♀, 3♂♂) (UMONS) [19]; Ghilzai, 05.viii.48, 1780 m, N. Haarlov (3♂♂) (
Species examined as part of the present study (✓ = taxon examined in the present study; X = taxon reported in Afghanistan but not examined).
Subgenus(following |
Taxon (according to the latest revisions of |
Taxonomic status according to the types examined by PH Williams (https://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/bombus/) | Present study |
---|---|---|---|
Mendacibombus | afghanus | Junior synonym of B. marussinus | |
makarjini | Valid | ✓ | |
marussinus | Valid | ✓ | |
turkestanicus | Valid | ✓ | |
Subterraneobombus | melanurus | Valid | ✓ |
subdistinctus | Junior synonym of B. melanurus | ||
Psithyrus | branickii | Valid | ✓ |
ferganicus | Valid | ✓ | |
morawitzianus | Valid | X | |
Pyrobombus | biroi | Valid | ✓ |
kotzschi | Valid | ✓ | |
subtypicus | Valid | ✓ | |
Bombus s. str. | lucorum jacobsoni | B jacobsoni | X |
tunicatus | Valid | ✓ | |
aff. longipennis | Uncertain taxonomic status | ✓ | |
Melanobombus | keriensis | Valid | ✓ |
incertoides | Valid | X | |
semenovianus | Valid | ✓ | |
Sibiricobombus | asiaticus | Referred to here as the accepted taxon B. asiaticus s. l. | ✓ |
miniatocaudatus | |||
longiceps | |||
morawitzi | Valid | ✓ | |
obtusus (sspp. badakshanensis and obtusus) | Valid | ✓ | |
Cullumanobombus | cullumanus serrisquama | Valid | ✓ |
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Some of the Afghan bumblebee taxa examined as part of this study. A Bombus (Subterraneobombus) melanurus B B. (Sibiricobombus) morawitzi C B. (Melanobombus) semenovianus D B. (Melanobombus) keriensis s. s. E B. (Sibiricobombus) obtusus F B. (Sibiricobombus) asiaticus. Photograph credits P. Rasmont.
Hindu Kush, Tarest Mts., high valley, 29.viii–3.ix.67, 3250 m, leg. D.K. Mardon, 36°20'N, 69°50'E (2♂♂) (
Palaearctic region and Oriental regions.
Peniger, R. Bashgal, 4–5.viii.65, 9500 ft., leg. G.W. Johnstone (1♀) [other name: Landay-Sin River, 35.61N, 71.33E].
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Grosser Pamir, Issiktal, Quellflur in Artemisia-Chenopodiensteppe, 23.viii.75, 3500 m, leg. H. Huss, 37°02'N, 73°20'E (1☿) (UMONS) [13]; Shiva-See, 05.viii.71, 3100 m, D. Müting (1☿) (
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Hindu Kush, Tarest Mts., high valley, 29.viii–3.ix.67, 3250 m, leg. D.K. Mardon, 36°20'N, 69°50'E (1♂, 1☿) (
Palaearctic region and Oriental regions.
3. Danske Exp. Til Centralasien, [manuscript: St.108], ST. [manuscript] Ghilzai, 05.viii.48 (2♂♂), 11.viii.48 in Surfa? (1♂), N. Haarlov (
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
New record for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, Grosser Pamir, Issiktal, Quellflur in Artemisia-Chenoponiensteppe, 3500 m, 23.viii.1975 (3☿☿); 22.viii.1975 (4☿☿); 17.viii.1975 (1♂) (UMONS) [13].
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
SO-Afghanistan, Prov. Pastia, Safed Koh, S-Seite, Kotkai, 2350 m, 16–17.vi.1971, rec. Ebert and Naumann, (3♀♀) (UMONS) [21]; SO-Afghanistan, Safed-Koh, S-Seite, Kotkai, 2350m, 14–23.vi.1966 (1♀) (UMONS) [21].
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Hindu Kush, Tarest Mts., high valley, 29.viii–3.ix.67, 3250 m, leg. D.K. Mardon, 36°20'N, 69°50'E (4☿☿) (
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Hindu Kush, Tarest Mts., high valley, 29.viii–3.ix.67, 3250m, leg. D.K. Mardon, 36°20'N, 69°50'E (9☿☿) (
Palaearctic region.
3. Danske Exp. Til Centralasien, [manuscript: St.108], ST. [manuscript] Ghilzai, 05.viii.48, N. Harloov (1♀, 2☿☿, 1♂) (
Palaearctic and Oriental regions.
Grosser Pamir, Issiktal, Frostbodenflur, 24.viii.75, 4100 m, leg. H. Huss, 37°02'N, 73°20'E (2♂♂) (UMONS) [13]; Wakhan-Tal, Kotal-e-Dalez, W-Seite, 09.vii.71, 3200–3400 m, leg. Ebert and Naumann (1☿) (UMONS) [around the Wakhan corridor in the NE of Afghanistan: 37.09N, 73.63E].
Palaearctic region.
Hindu Kush, 10.viii.68 at 9300 ft. (1♂, 2☿☿), 8.viii.68 at 9500 ft. (2☿☿), leg. M. Tong (
Palaearctic region.
C-Afghanistan, Prov. Bamian, Ghorghori-e-Panjao, Gaukhana, 11.vii.76, 2800 m, leg. C. Naumann (1♀) (UMONS) [3]; Hazaradjat, Koh-i-Baba, Shah-tu-Kotal, 20–21.vi.1961, 4000 m, leg. G. Ebert (1♀) (UMONS) [reference coordinates of the Koh-i-Baba 34.64N, 67.62E]; Z-Afghanistan, Koh-i-Baba, S-Seite, Shah-tu-Pass, 17–19.vii.1966, 3000 m, leg. G. Ebert (1♀, 4☿☿) (UMONS) [reference coordinates of the Koh-i-Baba 34.64N, 67.62E].
Palaearctic region.
While the bumblebee fauna of Western and Central Asia has received substantial attention within the last several decades, most notably in the Middle-East (
Most identified specimens in the present work were collected at high elevation in the Afghan Pamir (Wakhan Corridor) and Hindu-Kush mountains (Fig.
Moreover,
Although we did not examine all of the bumblebee collections of Tkalců, Reinig, or Richards, the previous records of B (Melanobombus) incertoides could correspond to specimens of B keriensis s. str., according to the ongoing global revision of Melanobombus (Williams et al. in prep) that suggests that the taxon B incertoides is only present in Mongolia.
Studies addressing the taxonomic relationships of the examined taxa will constitute an essential starting point for further revisions of the Afghan fauna. Highly polymorphic species complexes such as B. asiaticus remain enigmatic due to morphological convergence, and many others have not even been collected recently enough to be added in the latest comprehensive phylogeny of world bumblebees (
The authors express their gratitude to the late Dr. L. Reinig and Prof. C. Naumann for having provided part of the examined material to PR, and to all the data collectors cited in this work. We also thank Y.V. Astafurova, M. Kasparek, and M. Proshchalykin for their constructive comments that helped improve the quality of the manuscript. We thank Dimitri Evrard for his technical assistance and Baptiste Martinet for his help with the design of the second figure. GG was funded by a doctoral grant “Aspirant” from the F.R.S.-FNRS (Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique, Brussels, Belgium). MB was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer).
Table S1. Bumblebee records examined in the present study
Data type: species data