This is a widespread European species but with widely separated populations. It generally prefers cooler climes and is present in mountainous areas in the south and Taiga in the north. It is similar to several other species within its range (e.g. Bombus mendax and Bombus pyrenaeus) and is best confirmed by looking at microscopic features.

Distribution: This species displays a rather disjunct distribution in Europe. It occurs in the Picos de Europa in Spain, the Pyrenees and the Alps from France to Austria. It also occurs in the higher mountains in Bulgaria and North Macedonia, the Caucasus and around Komi in Russia.

Flight Period: Queens emerge in April or May, workers in June or July and males in July or August. It may persist until September in some areas.

Habitat: A species which prefers mountainous areas, particularly more open areas such as woodland clearings and edges, scrub, alpine meadows and pasture.

Flowers Visited: Visits a wide variety of flowers including knapweeds, thistles, saxifrages, sedums, clovers, milkvetches and others.

Personal Records: I have recorded this species in the valleys around the village of Cogne in NW Italy. I have also recorded it near the village of Gavarnie in the French Pyrenees. At the former location it was rather common, particularly in subalpine hayfields, forest clearings and alpine meadows where males and workers visited a variety of flowers.