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Author(s): Vazrick Nazari (corresponding author) [1]; Douglas Yanega [2] The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) has always permitted descriptions of new species without a preserved type specimen, but only [...]

Herein I summarize what is known about Cockerell's bumblebee, Bombus cockerelli Franklin, a New Mexican bumblebee species whose existence has been largely overlooked for decades because of a combination of rarity, geographic restriction, and taxonomic confusion. It is noteworthy that the known distribution covers only about 777 km², giving it the smallest known range of any bumblebee in the world. There are 34 known specimens, and I present historical details regarding their collection (dates, places, and host plants), deposition, and identification; hopefully, this information will allow others to locate additional specimens of this species. It is further notable that most of the known specimens are late-season queens, and males remain unknown, suggesting that the species may nest and forage in areas of dense forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]