Abstract: Schima superba is a precious broadleaf timber and high efficient biological fireprevention tree in China. S. superba is a kind of xenogamous plant, depending on the pollinators for its seed production. In order to determine the composition of pollinators and the pollination efficiency of the dominant ones, we investigated the behavior, location and number of carried pollen, visiting frequency, and the number of pollen removal and deposit by a single visit to virgin flowers in S. superba seed orchard in Lanxi, Zhejiang Province during 2015-2016. The results showed that three insects Apis cerana, Protaetia brevitarsis, and Popillia mutans were the major pollinators. The peak visiting activities were from 10:00 to 11:00 in A. cerana and P. mutans, and there was no peak of visiting activities in P. brevitarsis. The bodies of three pollinators were able to carry pollens. The carried quantity of pollen grains by P. brevitarsis was significantly higher than that by P. mutans (P<0.001), and the carried quantity of pollen grains of P. mutans was significantly higher than that of A. cerana (P<0.001). The carried quantity of pollen grains on thoracic sternum and abdominal sternum were higher than on other parts. So, the major body parts of pollination were sternum for all three pollinators. The removed and deposited pollen grains and pollination efficiency of A. cerana were all lower than those of P. revitarsis and P. mutans, but were not significantly different. However, A. cerana was dominant in visiting frequency, being as 29 and 8.3 times as P. brevitarsis and P. mutans, respectively. The duration of each visit of A. cerana was lower than that of P. brevitarsis and P. mutans. Therefore, we suggested that A. cerana was the most efficient pollinator for S. superba.

Key words: community species composition, productivity, alpine meadow., species diversity