Polaris

Bombus polaris Curtis
Arcticus Kirby in Parry, 1824:ccxvi, examined, not of Quensel in Acerbi, 1802:253 (= B. hyperboreus Schönherr)
Polaris Curtis in Ross, 1835:lxiii, examined

TAXONOMIC STATUS: see comments on B. pyrrhopygus.

NOMENCLATURE: Løken (1973) used the name B. arcticus Kirby for this species because she considered B. arcticus (Quensel) to be a nomen oblitum. However, this is not supported by the present Code for a publication of this date (ICZN, 1999: Article 23.12), although it does allow B. arcticus (Quensel) to be suppressed by use of the Plenary Power. See the comments on B. hyperboreus.

DISTRIBUTION: Arctic, W Nearctic Regions.