Gray-backed Bumble Bee Bombus funebris

The mourning bee—dark and somber, found in South America's western slopes from Colombia to northern Chile. This bumblebee navigates high-altitude mountain regions where temperatures drop and oxygen thins. Its dark coloration helps absorb heat in cool environments, an adaptation for surviving where more colorful bumblebees struggle. These fuzzy giants are essential pollinators for alpine and montane plants across the Andes.