Fortunately, there is plenty of knowledge about bumblebees color pattern, and some scientist published excellent publication regarding this subject but as I know the main factor affecting on color pattern comes from genetics. As I can imagine, Color pattern can be affected by 3 main factors:

 1. Genetic,

2. Climate conditions of area,

 3. Food components

 In my opinions, climatic conditions like Temp., Humidity, Solar radiation,etc., and food compositions of pollen and nectar (which may have Cu, Fr,…) earn from various food plants in each area for long term period, are the secondary Factor which affect on BUMBLEBEES color pattern. The main one is surely, the genetics. So, the following question would be like this:

1-which alleles are responsible to make color pattern of hair on each part of body, alleles which cause hair color on Tergits, the main part which used in systematic morphology whould be most important?

2- How many genes and which kind of them controlled enzymes engage in this regards?

3- Are controllers genes are passive which may expressed just in some generations?

And so many questions which will answered y this research.

Some examples:

In Bumblebees, in one species there are several various color patterns: for example we have completely white and completely yellow color pattern in Bombus niveatus and Bombus zonatus in Iran and some other countries. Sometimes in one colony you can see both color patterns. Adding to this there are many different species which have the same color patterns….

Finding locus of genes control color pattern may solved some other problems in identification of species and sub species in Bombus spp.

If a team be interested to study this subject I can help about Iranian species as well as part of team.

Alireza