This is another rather unusually-patterned species for those more used to the northern European fauna, as the abdomen and much of the thorax is white-haired, with a central patch of black hairs on top of the thorax and only a hint of buffish colouration on the abdomen. It is a rather small species which is restricted to high altitudes, where it can be locally common.

Distribution: Not found in Europe, but populations exist in central and eastern Turkey, as well as further east.

Flight Period: Precise data is lacking, but like most bumblebees it likely flies in spring and summer.

Habitat: This is a high-altitude specialist and is limited to montane steppe, dry alpine grassland, rocky mountain slopes and subalpine forest edges and clearings.

Flowers Visited: Various thistles, sainfoins, scabiouses, borages and others are used.

Personal Records: I have observed this species in central Anatolia, on the high eastern slopes of Erciyes Dağı. Here several workers and males were feeding on thistles, although they were not numerous and far outnumbered by Bombus niveatus here.