Bombus mixtus Cresson
Praticola Kirby, 1837:274
mixtus Cresson, 1878:186, not of Kriechbaumer, 1870:160 (= B. Maxillosus Klug)

NOMENCLATURE: B. praticola is probably the oldest available name for this species. Any remaining confusion could be resolved by the designation of an appropriate neotype (e.g. see the comments on B. Subterraneus).

Although B. praticola is probably the oldest available name for this species, the name B. mixtus has been in common use for the species since 1950 (e.g. Stephen, 1957; Thorp, 1970; Plowright & Stephen, 1973; K. W. Richards, 1973; Macior, 1975; Sakagami, 1976; Hurd, 1979; Plowright & Owen, 1980; Thorp et al., 1983; Laverty & Harder, 1988; Macfarlane et al., 1994). It is suggested that, in the interests of stability, an application be made to ICZN to use its Plenary Power to suppress the senior homonym (ICZN, 1999: Article 78) (see the comments on B. Muscorum) (in prep.). However, the consequence of this action would be that mixtus (Kriechbaumer) would no longer be available for a subspecies of B. Maxillosus.

DISTRIBUTION: W Nearctic Region.