Intraspecific Variation of the Cephalic Labial Gland Secretions in Bombus terrestris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Variations of secretions of the cephalic part of the labial glands from four different subspecies of Bombus terrestris, B. t. terrestris, B. t. lusitanicus, B. t. sassaricus, and B. t. dalmatinus, were investigated. 95 compounds were detected in the whole data set: 54 in B. t. terrestris, 54 in B. t. lusitanicus, 48 in B. t. sassaricus, and 44 in B. t. dalmatinus. The (E)‐2,3‐dihydrofarnesol is the main compound in B. t. dalmatinus and B. t. sassaricus, while it is dihydrofarnesyl dodecanoate in B. t. terrestris and B. t. lusitanicus. A principal component analysis produced a pattern showing three well distinct groups corresponding to dalmatinus, sassaricus, and terrestris+lusitanicus.     

Substrate switches,phenotypic innovations and allopatric speciation formed taxonomic diversity within the lichen genus Blastenia

Blastenia is a widely distributed lichen genus in Teloschistaceae. We reconstructed its phylogeny in order to test species delimitation and to find evolutionary drivers forming recent Blastenia diversity. The origin of Blastenia is dated to the early Tertiary period, but later diversification events are distinctly younger. We recognized 24 species (plus 2 subspecies) within 6 infrageneric groups. Each species strongly prefers a single type of substrate (17 species occur on organic substrates, 7 on siliceous rock), and most infrageneric groups also show a clear substrate preference. All infrageneric groups tend to have the Mediterranean and Macaronesian distribution, but some epiphytic species have much larger geographic ranges and some evolved after a long‐distance dispersal outside the region. Chlorinated and nonchlorinated anthraquinone chemosyndromes co‐occur in apothecia of most species, but the chemotype has been secondarily reduced in some lineages. One infrageneric group has a marked reduction in apothecial size, associated with a substrate shift to twigs. Only seven species have vegetative diaspores; they also produce apothecia but have smaller ascospores. Genome sizes (22‐35 Mb in Blastenia) are significantly higher in epilithic species. Within‐species genetic variation is low in widely distributed species but high in some epilithic species with small geographical ranges. New taxa are: B. afroalpina, B. anatolica, B. caucasica, B. gennargentuae, B. herbidella subsp. acidophila, B. lauri, B. monticola, B. palmae, B. psychrophila, B. purpurea, B. relicta, B. remota, B. xerothermica, and B. xerothermica subsp. macaronesica. New combinations are: B. festivella and B. subathallina; both names and B. catalinae are lectotypified.     

Botrytis sinoallii: a new species of the grey mould pathogen on Allium crops in China

A study was conducted to identify Botrytis spp. isolated from bulb onion, green onions, garlic, and garlic chives grown in Hubei Province of China. Based on colony morphology and conidial characteristics, 367 strains of Botrytis spp. were identified as five distinct species, namely, B. cinerea, B. squamosa, B. porri, B. byssoidea, and an undescribed Botrytis species (Botrytis sp.), which accounted for 64.3, 29.9, 3.3, 0.3, and 2.2%, respectively. The previously undescribed species is herein described as a new species, B. sinoallii sp. nov., which is characterized by production of numerous small sclerotia on potato dextrose agar. Phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences of three nuclear genes (G3PDH, HSP60, and RPB2) showed that B. sinoallii forms a unique lineage, which is closely related to B. squamosa, a well-known species on Allium crops, but distantly related to the other species of Botrytis on Allium crops, including B. cinerea, B. porri, B. aclada, B. allii, B. byssoidea, B. globosa, and B. sphaerosperma. Results of inoculation tests showed that B. sinoallii is a newly identified agent that can cause leaf blight of green onion, garlic, and garlic chives. Potential impact of B. sinoallii on production of Allium crops in China is discussed.     

Reproductive biology of skates, Bathyraja(Ishiyama), along the eastern Bering Sea continental slope

Eight Bathyraja skate species, Bathyraja aleutica, Bathyraja interrupta, Bathyraja lindbergi, Bathyraja maculata, Bathyraja minispinosa, Bathyraja parmifera, Bathyraja taranetzi and Bathyraja trachura, collected along the eastern Bering Sea continental slope were examined for reproductive features. The sex ratio for six of eight Bathyraja skate species studied was c. 1 : 1 with males dominating for B. interrupta and B. parmifera. Five of eight species examined, B. aleutica, B. lindbergi, B. parmifera, B. taranetzi and B. trachura approximately equalled or exceeded the maximum reported total length, L_T. Maximum L_T for three species (B. interrupta, B. minispinosa and B. parmifera) revealed that the largest individuals were males and that in three other species (B. lindbergi, B. maculata and B. trachura) both females and males grew to approximately the same size. Both females and males matured at approximately the same L_T for seven of eight species. Only female B. aleutica matured at a much larger size than males. All species matured within a narrow size range following a protracted juvenile stage and once mature these skates appeared to grow very little. First maturity for all species occurred at ≥80% of their maximum L_T. The number of oocytes did not significantly differ between the left and right ovary for any species. The total number of mature oocytes increased with L_T for six of eight species examined. The number of oocytes for one species, B. aleutica, increased in number until 145 cm L_T, then declined in those individuals greater in length. The egg cases of all species are described, of which four (B. lindbergi, B. parmifera, B. taranetzi and B. trachura) have never been previously reported. Evidence is presented that suggest skates may be limited to as little as one and as many as 13 spawning seasons, depending on the species, and that senescence may occur in older individuals.     

Hyperossification in miniaturized toadlets of the genus Brachycephalus (Amphibia: Anura: Brachycephalidae): Microscopic structure and macroscopic patterns of variation

Species of the genus Brachycephalus, have a snout‐vent length of less than 18 mm and are believed to have evolved through miniaturization. Brachycephalus ephippium, is particularly interesting; because its entire skull is hyperossified, and the presacral vertebrae and transverse processes are covered by a dorsal shield. We demonstrate in this paper that, at the macroscopic level, a completely hyperossified skull and dorsal shield occur only in B. ephippium, but not in B. ferruginus, B. izechsohni, B. pernix, B. pombali, B. brunneus, B. didactylus, and B. hermogenesi. An intermediate condition, in which the skull is hyperossified but a dorsal shield is absent, occurs in B. vertebralis, B. nodoterga, B. pitanga, and B. alipioi. The microscopic structure of hyperossification was examined in skulls of B. ephippium and B. pitanga, revealing a complex organization involving the presence of Sharpey fibers, which in humans are characteristic of periodontal connections. J. Morphol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Characterization of Acetanilide Herbicides Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Tea Garden Soil

Three different green manures were added to the tea garden soils separately and incubated for 40 days. After, incubation, acetanilide herbicides alachlor and metolachlor were spiked into the soils, separately, followed by the isolation of bacteria in each soil at designed intervals. Several bacterial strains were isolated from the soils and identified as Bacillus silvestris, B. niacini, B. pseudomycoides, B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, B. simplex, B. megaterium, and two other Bacillus sp. (Met1 and Met2). Three unique strains with different morphologies were chosen for further investigation. They were B. megaterium, B. niacini, and B. silvestris. The isolated herbicide-degrading bacteria showed optimal performance among three incubation temperatures of 30°C and the best activity in the 10 to 50 μg/ml concentration of the herbicide. Each bacterial strain was able to degrade more than one kind of test herbicides. After incubation for 119 days, B. cereus showed the highest activity to degrade alachlor and propachlor, and B. thuringiensis to degrade metolachlor.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the lichen familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales); a new generic classification and notes on character evolution

A phylogenetic analysis of the familySphaerophoraceae (Caliciales, lichenized ascomycetes) has resulted in a new generic classification. Notes on character evolution are given. The generaSphaerophorus s. str.,Bunodophoron andLeifidium, gen. nov., are accepted.Pleurocybe andPseudosphaerophorus are considered synonyms ofBunodophoron andThysanophoron is considered synonym toSphaerophorus. The following new combinations are proposed:Bunodophoron coomerense (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. diplotypum (Vain.)Wedin,B. dodgei (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. flaccidum (Kantvilas & Wedin)Wedin,B. formosanum (Zahlbr.)Wedin,B. imshaugii (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. insigne (Laurer)Wedin,B. kinabaluense (M. Satô)Wedin,B. macrocarpum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. madagascareum (Nyl.)Wedin,B. microsporum (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. murrayi (Ohlsson)Wedin,B. notatum (Tibell)Wedin,B. ohlssonii (Wedin)Wedin,B. patagonicum (C. W. Dodge)Wedin,B. ramuliferum (I. M. Lamb)Wedin,B. scrobiculatum (C. Bab.)Wedin,B. tibellii (Wedin)Wedin,B. whakapapaense (Wedin)Wedin, andLeifidium tenerum (Laurer)Wedin.     

Investigation of the essential oil from eight species of Baccharis belonging to sect. Caulopterae (Asteraceae, Astereae): a taxonomic approach

Essential oils of B. articulata, B. crispa, B. microcephala, Baccharis milleflora, B. myriocephala, B. stenocephala, B. trimera and B. usterii, all of sect. Caulopterae, have been analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Despite the morphological similarity among these species, differences in composition of their essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation and hexane extract could be observed. Special attention was given to Baccharis trimera and B. crispa since their differentiation during early stages is not possible due to the absence of synflorescences. Carquejyl acetate is suggested as a marker for Baccharis trimera, and a fast method of detection of this compound is given.     

Determination of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by some <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> spp.

In this study, 29 strains of the genus Bacillus were isolated from different soil samples which were taken from grasslands of Ankara, Turkey and were identified as B. brevis, B. sphaericus, B. cereus, B. megaterium, B. circulans, B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and B. coagulans. Two strains, B. sphaericus ATCC 14577 and B. subtilis ATCC 6633 were also included in this study. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by these strains was determined by the spectrophotometric method, and it was found that PHB production ranged from 1.06–41.67% (w/v) depending on the dry cell weight. The highest PHB production and productivity percentage was found in B. brevis M6 (41.67% w/v).     

Identification of Botrytis spp. on Plants Grown in Iran

A total of 363 isolates were collected from all over Iran. They were isolated from apple, arum lily, briar rose, bride wort, broad bean, camellia, canola, carnation, cucumber, egg plant, feijoa, geranium, gerbera, gladiolus, grape, guilder rose, hibiscus, iris, kiwifruit, oleander, onion, orange, pear, pomegranate, primrose, quince, redbud, robinia, rose, rubber plant, sow thiste, spathe flower, strawberry, tomato, violet, wall flower and wheat. To identify the species, morphological characters such as conidiophore length, conidial and sclerotial dimensions were measured. According to morphological and cultural characters, eight Botrytis species were identified: B. aclada sensu lato, B. cinerea, B. fabae, B. convoluta, B. gladiolorum, B. paeoniae, B. pelargonii and B. porri. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of the last five species from Iran. These species were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using necrosis and ethylene‐inducing protein (NEP2) and C729 primers. A 835 bp band was amplified in B. cinerea, B. fabae and B. pelargonii, using NEP2, but not in others. However, C729 primers amplified a 700 bp band in B. cinerea and B. pelargonii and a 600 bp in B. fabae.     

Haplotype study on C4 polymorphism in Japanese. Associations with MIHC Alleles,complotypes, and HLA-complement haplotypes

Genetic polymorphism of the fourth component of human complement (C4) was investigated in 83 Japanese families which have been typed for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, C2, and BF. Four common C4A alleles and four common C4B alleles were observed. The allele frequencies estimated from unrelated parents were as follows: C4A3, 0.686; A4, 0.132; A2, 0.106; AQ0, 0.067; ARares, 0.009; C4B1, 0.587; B2, 0.167; B5, 0.088; and BQ0, 0.158. Eight different C4 haplotypes were observed with frequencies of more than 0.01. The estimated haplotype frequencies were as follows: C4A3-B1, 0.513; A4-B2, 0.114; A2-BQ0, 0.106; A3-B5, 0.088; AQ0-B1, 0.059; A3-BQ0, 0.047; A3-B2,0.038; A4-B1, 0.015; and Rares, 0.021. Strong positive gametic associations were found in the following C4-HLA haplotypes: C4A2BQ0-A24, C4A2BQ0-Bw52, C4A3B5-Bw54, C4A3B5-Bw59, C4A4B2-Bw46, C4A3B5-Cw1, C4A2BQ0-DR2, and C4A3B5-DR4. Eleven complotypes were observed with frequencies of more than 0.01. C4A2BQ0 and C4A3B5 were exclusively associated with BFS-C2C. BFF was associated with C4A3B1, C2AT, C2B, and C2BH were associated with C4A3B1, A4B2, and C4A3B1, respectively. Eight different HLA-complement haplotypes were found to be characteristic of Japanese. These combinations are considerably different from those reported in Caucasoid populations.     

Intergeneric hybrids between Enarthrocarpus lyratus,a wild species,and crop brassicas

Summary Attempts were made to produce intergeneric hybrids between Enarthrocarpus lyratus, a wild species, and several species of crop brassicas: B. campestris, B. nigra, B. oleracea, B. juncea, B. napus and B. Carinata. Hybrids using E. lyratus as female parent were realized by means of embryo rescue in four combinations — E. lyratus x B. campestris, E. lyratus x B. oleracea, E. lyratus x B. napus and E. lyratus x B. carinata. Reciprocal crosses showed strong pre-fertilization barriers and yielded no hybrids except in one combination — B. Juncea x E. Lyratus — in which a single hybrid could be realized. All of the hybrids were multiplied in vitro through the multiplication of axillary shoots. Morphological and cytological studies confirmed hybridity. All hybrids were completely pollen sterile except for E. lyratus x B. carinata, which showed 2% pollen fertility. Attempts to double the chromosome number through the in vitro application of colchicine to axillary meristems of F₁ hybrids were successful in only one hybrid, E. lyratus x B. oleracea. Cytological studies of the hybrids indicated the presence of a partial homology between the genomes of E. lyratus and crop brassicas. Backcross progenies were raised from all of the five F₁ hybrids to develop malesterile alloplasmic lines.     

Zooplankton of Lake Peipsi-Pihkva in 1909–1987

164 taxa were identified in the net zooplankton of the pelagial of L. Peipsi-Pihkva in 1909–1987, including 3 species of protozoans, 74 species of rotifers, 58 species of cladocerans, 28 species of copepods and 1 mollusc. One rotifer species, Ploesoma peipsiense Mäemets et Kutikova, has been described as new for science here. The zooplankton of L. Peipsi-Pihkva is remarkably rich in species including rarities in Estonia: Limnosida frontosa, Drepanothrix dentata, Bythotrephes longimanus, B. cederstroemi etc. Due to its large surface area, L. Peipsi-Pihkva provides a large scale of biotopes of a diverse trophic state and humic content, which support species with different ecological requirements. Most of the aquatory of the lake has lately been mesotrophic, favouring the coexistence of indicators of oligo- and mesotrophic state and species preferring a higher trophic state. The occurrece of 10 species of the genus Bosmina including B. berolinensis, B. gibbera, B. lilljeborgi, B. thersites and B. crassicornis, sparse in Estonian lakes, is the most noteworthy feature of the zooplankton of L. Peipsi-Pihkva. The coexistence of B. coregoni and B. berolinensis, B. gibbera, B. lilljeborgi etc. which were earlier regarded as subspecies of B. c. coregoni proves that they are different species producing usually no hybrids. The species composition was subjected to certain changes during the years under consideration. Larvae of Dreissena were first found in zooplankton in 1962. The oligo-mesotrophic indicator Holopedium gibberum occurred in the lake in 1909–1964, but was lacking in later samples.     

Molecular systematics of Brassica and allied genera (Subtribe Brassicinae,Brassiceae) —chloroplast genome and cytodeme congruence

Summary Chloroplast DNA restriction sites for 20 endonucleases were mapped using cpDNA probes from Brassica juncea and site variation was surveyed in 33 diploid taxa of the Subtribe Brassicinae. A total of 419 mutations was observed, including both site (i.e., gain/ loss) and fragment length (i.e., insertions or deletions); 221 (53%) mutations showed variation at the interspecific level. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a clear division of the subtribe into two ancient evolutionary lineages. These were (I) the Nigra lineage: Brassica nigra, B. fruticulosa, B. tournefortii, Sinapis pubescens, S. alba, S. flexuosa, S. arvensis, Coincya cheiranthos, Erucastrum canariense, and Hirschfeldia incana, and (II) the Rapa/ Oleracea lineage: Brassica rapa, B. oleracea ssp. oleracea and ssp. alboglabra, B. rupestris-villosa complex (B. rupestris, B. drepanensis, B. macrocarpa, B. villosa), B. barrelieri, B. deflexa, B. oxyrrhina, B. gravinae, Diplotaxis erucoides, D. tenuifolia, Eruca sativa, Raphanus raphanistrum, R. sativus, and Sinapis aucheri. In the Nigra lineage, Brassica nigra was most closely related to the annual Sinapis species, S. arvensis and S. alba. In the Rapa/Oleracea lineage, the Brassica rapa and B. oleracea genomes formed a distinct group whose closest relatives were the wild species of the B. oleracea (n=9) complex (i.e., B. rupestris-villosa complex). Species with n=7 chromosomes exist in both lineages. Hirschfeldia incana (n=7), in the Nigra lineage, was most closely related to Sinapis pubescens. In the Rapa/Oleracea lineage three taxa with n=7 — B. deflexa, D. erucoides, and S. aucheri — were closely related, advanced in the lineage, and were the closest apparent relatives (particularly D. erucoides) to B. rapa, B. oleracea, and its wild relatives. Levels of genetic divergence suggested by the cpDNA data were consistent with cytodeme recognition in the subtribe, but provided evidence for inconsistencies in the current generic delimitations based on morphology. Very low levels of genetic divergence were evident among taxa/accessions within a cytodeme. Raphanus was closely related to the Brassica rapa and B. oleracea genomes and clearly belongs in Subtribe Brassicinae. Several cytoplasmic genetic markers of potential use in plant breeding programs were identified for each of the cytodemes.     

Systematic revision of the living species of Bullidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Cephalaspidea), with a molecular phylogenetic analysis

Bullidae are a worldwide family of marine shelled cephalaspidean gastropods with a mainly tropical distribution, but also with some representatives in temperate waters. The taxonomy of the group has in the past been based only on shell characters, and the few anatomical accounts available have not addressed more than one to three species, so there has been no agreement about the number of valid species. Seventy‐two specific names and 16 varietal names have been proposed worldwide. The systematics of the family Bullidae are revised, based not only on shells but also on anatomy of all extant species and on DNA sequence data. Twelve species are recognized worldwide, including one new species here described, and all are assigned to the genus Bulla. Two species occur in the eastern Atlantic, B. striata and B. mabillei; two in the western Atlantic, B. occidentalis and B. solida; two in the eastern Pacific, B. gouldiana and B. punctulata; and six in the Indo‐West Pacific, B. ampulla, B. arabica sp. nov. , B. orientalis, B. peasiana, B. quoyii and B. vernicosa. Full synonymies and taxonomic histories are provided for each species. In order to promote taxonomic stability, neotypes are designated for B. striata, B. solida, B. nebulosa (valid name B. gouldiana) and B. vernicosa, and lectotypes for B. occidentalis, B. mabillei, B. punctulata, B. ampulla and B. quoyii. The type locality of B. ampulla is restricted to Mauritius. Bullidae show a general morphological stasis, with anatomy being very similar between species. However, there are high levels of intraspecific variability in the shell, radula and male genital system. In some cases species could only be separated based on molecular data . After defining the characters and geographical range of each species it became clear that sympatric species (a maximum of three) show distinctive shells and reproductive structures, which makes identification straightforward. This study employs an integrative approach, combining information on shells, anatomy, DNA and geographical distribution, in order to resolve the systematics of a difficult taxonomic group. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153 , 453–543.     

Induction of colony initiation by Japanese native bumble bees using cocoons of the exotic bumblebee Bombus terrestris

The colony initiation rates of Bombus hypocrita (a native Japanese bumblebee) and Bombus terrestris (a European species) foundresses were compared after 4 weeks of exposure to B. terrestris cocoons. The B. terrestris cocoons, when replaced weekly, were effective for inducing oviposition by foundresses of both species. There were no significant differences in the colony initiation rates of B. terrestris and B. hypocrita, either with the control treatment or with the cocoons. The cocoon method was also tested for five species and two subspecies of native Japanese bumblebees. The colony initiation rate was higher for foundresses of the subgenus Bombus s. str. than for foundresses of the subgenera Pyrobombus, Diversobombus, and Thoracobombus. When replaced weekly, the cocoons of B. terrestris are effective inducers of colony foundation in three Japanese native species, namely B. ignitus, B. hypocrita hypocrita, and B. h. sapporoensis.     

Identification of species in tribe Brassiceae by dot-blot hybridization using species-specific ITS1 probes

Simple, reliable methods for identification of species are required for management of many species and lines in a plant gene bank. Species-specific probes were designed from published sequences of the ITS1 region in rDNA of 16 species in Brassica and its related genera, and used as probes for dot-blot hybridization with plant genomic DNA. All the probes detected species-specific signals at dot-blots of genomic DNAs of the 16 species in Brassica, Diplotaxis, Eruca, and Raphanus. Signals of the Brassica digenomic species in the U’s triangle, i.e., B. napus, B. juncea, and B. carinata, were detected by the probes of their parental monogenomic species, i.e., B. rapa, B. nigra, and B. oleracea. The probe for B. oleracea showed signals of B. balearica, B. cretica, B. incana, B. insularis, and B. macrocarpa, which have the C genome as B. oleracea. Eruca vesicaria DNA was detected by the probe for E. sativa, which has been classified as a subspecies of E. vescaria. DNA of leaf tissue extracted by an alkaline solution and seed DNA prepared by the NaI method can be used directly for dot-blotting. Misidentification of species was revealed in 20 accessions in the Tohoku University Brassica Seed Bank. These results indicate dot-blot hybridization to be a simple and efficient technique for identification of plant species in a gene bank.     

Production of hybrids, amphiploids and backcross progenies between a cold-tolerant wild species, Erucastrum abyssinicum and crop brassicas

Three intergeneric hybrids were produced between a cold-tolerant wild species, Erucastrum abyssinicum and three cultivated species of Brassica, B. juncea, B. carinata and B. oleracea, through ovary culture. The hybrids were characterized by morphology, cytology and DNA analysis. Amphiploidy was induced in all the F₁ hybrids through colchicine treatment. Stable amphiploids and backcross progenies were obtained from two of the crosses, E. abyssinicum x B. juncea and E. abyssinicum x B. carinata. The amphiploid, E. abyssinicum x B. juncea was successfully used as a bridge species to produce hybrids with B. napus, B. campestris and B. nigra. These hybrids and backcross progenies provide useful genetic variability for the improvement of crop brassicas.     

Allozymic characterization of Sardinian Bacillus rossius (Rossi) and B. atticus Brunner (Insecta Phasmatodea)

The allozymic characterization of newly discovered populations of B. atticus and B. rossius is given. Most Sardinian B. rossius demes belong to the subspecies B. r. rossius, Southeastern populations are B. r. redtenbacheri, while the central ones appear to be intermediate. Like all Italian B. atticus, also Sardinian demes belong to B. a. caprai. The presence of B. atticus alleles in syntopic B. rossius populations is explained through gene introgression due to past hybridization events between the two taxa.     

Morphological variation in relation to flower use in bumblebees

To understand resource partitioning in a bumblebee community, we analyzed various morphological characters. A total of 1269 individuals of six bumblebee species, Bombus ardens, B. hypocrita, B. diversus, B. ignitus, B. honshuensis and B. beaticola, were examined and principal component analysis showed that the bumblebee species were clearly differentiated. Glossa, prementa and head lengths were positively correlated with the second component, and a longer proboscis was associated with a narrower body, which may help bees to intrude into and access deep‐lying nectar sources. Bombus diversus, with a long proboscis and narrow body, preferred flowers with a long corolla tube, whereas B. hypocrita and B. ignitus, which have short proboscises and wide bodies, visited flowers with short corollas or dish‐shaped flowers. Two pairs of consubgeneric species that have similar morphological characteristics, B. ardens and B. beaticola, and B. hypocrita and B. ignitus, divided flower resources by habitat selection and seasonal partitioning. For resource partitioning among bumblebee species, not only morphology but also other factors, such as habitat and seasonal preference, flower use, foraging behavior, and interspecific interactions, are responsible.