Most northerly bees
Who
Alpinobombus
What
83 degree(s)
Where
Canada ()
When

No bees have been found living farther north than the bumblebee subgenus Alpinobombus, which have been documented deep within the Arctic Circle in northern Greenland and on Canada's Ellesmere Island, which stretches as far north as 83°N. Three species of particular note for reaching the most upper extent of this range are Bombus polaris, B. natvigi and B. kirbiellus.


There are believed to be between six and nine species within the Alpinobombus group.

With temperatures plummeting to as low as -50°C (-58°F) on Ellesmere Island in the winter, these high-Arctic-dwelling bees have developed a number of biological and behavioural adaptations to survive the extreme conditions. These include thicker fur on their bodies, the use of thermoregulation and the construction of insulated nests.