Bombus melaleucus Handlirsch 1888  

The only nest known was described by Hoffmann et al. (2004) and found near Guadua angustifolia plants at 1340 m above sea level in vereda El Porvenir (4° 52’N, 74° 50’W), Colombia. The entrance tube was covered with dry plant material. The bottom of the nest cavity (probably an abandoned small mammal nest) was ~34 cm below the soil surface. The ellipsoidal nest did not completely fill the cavity. The involucrum (G. angustifolia leaves, other plant particles and small roots held together with wax) completely covered the inner nest except for a small entrance. Although the surrounding soil was extremely wet, as reported previously for B. (Fervidobombus) transversalis (Olesen, 1989), the involucrum was dry. No nest parasites were found. Workers were very aggressive during collection.