Abstract:
To investigate the adaptation between the floral morphology traits and the pollinators of Coptis chinensis, the floral morphology characteristics of Coptis chinensis were observed and its pollination insect profiles were analyzed, including visitation rate, visitation behavior, pollination efficiency and the contribution rate of seed setting. Results showed that the flower of Coptis chinensis had special nectariferous petals with nectar-secreting tissues in the middle, which can produce a small amount of nectar. Sarcophagidae sp. and Episyrphus balteatus(Diptera) were the main pollination insects for Coptis chinensis, and lapping mouthparts and licking nectar behavior were observed in the two kinds of insects. During visitation to flowers, the leg, thorax and abdomen of insects can touch pistil and stamen, promoting the development of ovule. In addition, the visitation rates of pollinators fluctuated in different years due to the unstable climate of early spring, but the pollinator species did not change. These results indicate that the shallow truncated nectary structure of Coptis chinensis is suitable for Sarcophagidae sp. and Episyrphus balteatus with lapping mouthparts as pollinators, thus forming a relatively stable pollination system.
