Hitchhiking with the Vikings? The anthropogenic bumblebee fauna of Iceland – past and present

ABSTRACTThe number of bumblebee species found in Iceland has doubled from three to six in 35 years. This paper considers the colonisation of Iceland by bumblebees; updates information on Bombus(Pyrobombus) jonellus (Kirby), B. (Megabombus) hortorum (L.) and B. (Bombus) lucorum (L.); presents findings for two new colonists, B. (Pyrobombus) hypnorum (L.) and B. (Thoracobombus) pascuorum (Scopoli); and considers the arrival of another species, B.(Pyrobombus) pratorum (L.), that may have become established. The context of bumblebee dispersal to remote islands is considered. Many of the restricted number of insect species that have colonised North Atlantic islands have done so in association with man. B. (Bombus) terrestris (L.) has been used as a pollinator in glasshouses in Iceland since 1994, and it may also have become naturalised. Barcoding is needed to check the identity of some specimens. B. jonellus has probably been present for at least several hundred years; genetic studies should help determine whet...