Bombus pratorum is one of the most widespread bumblebees of the West-Palaearctic region. It is one of the most common species after B. pascuorum, B. terrestris and B. lapidarius. Its range extends from the shores of the Arctic Ocean to very close to those of the Mediterranean. Although B. pratorum is very common and almost ubiquitous in central Europe and at higher latitudes, in the south, it is clearly a mountain species. It is uncommon and very localised in the south of the Iberian peninsula, Italy and the Balkan. In Anatolia and Iran, it is found only in the northern mountains. It is absent from the steppes of Ukraine and S. Russia but present in Crimea. East of the Ural, it is found by places in W. Siberia and in the Altai, but does not extend east of the Ienissei.
One could recognize the ssp. skorikowi from NE Turkey and Caucasus, and the spp. santonae from the Iberian peninsula. All other subspecies seem unconsistent.
P. Rasmont