Abstract: 【Aim】 Camellia oleifera is a strictly cross-pollinated plant, and its fruiting heavily relies on insect pollination. However, due to the destruction of suitable habitats for pollinators by human activities, the pollinators of C. oleifera are decreasing, which brings serious pollination crisis to C. oleifera. Bombus terrestris is an effective pollinator for many plants, but little is known about its effectiveness and efficiency in pollinating C. oleifera. The purpose of this study is to clarify the potential effectiveness of the introduction of B. terrestris into C. oleifera plantation in pollination, comprehensively evaluate the pollination potential of B. terrestris on C. oleifera and provide a scientific basis for solving the problem of low yield of C. oleifera. 【Methods】 Through artificial introduction of B. terrestris into C. oleifera plantation, field observation and laboratory determination were used to comprehensively record the daily activity rules, flower visiting behavior, visiting density on flowers and flower visitation frequency of adult workers of B. terrestris, as well as the pollen loads on their body, the pollen deposition on the stigma and fruit setting rate of C. oleifera, and to systematically evaluate the pollination effect of B. terrestris on C. oleifera. 【Results】 During the whole flowering period of C. oleifera, the adult workers of B. terrestris showed active visitation to the flowers, with a double-peak daily activity pattern and being the most active at the temperature of 14 ℃ and the relative humidity of 70%. In a single flower visitation, (872.92±272.73) pollen grains were deposited on the stigma on average, B. terrestris could be considered as a highly efficient pollinator for C. oleifera. Moreover, the adult workers of B. terrestris could forage within a range of 35 m from their nest entrances, within this range, C. oleifera had an increase in the fruit setting rate ranging from 10% to 27%. 【Conclusion】 B. terrestris can provide high-quality pollination services for C. oleifera, significantly increasing the fruit setting rate of C. oleifera. Introducing B. terrestris into C. oleifera plantation for pollination is an effective measure to promote C. oleifera fruiting. This study provides crucial data support for the introduction and management of artificial pollinators during the flowering period of C. oleifera plantation.

Key words: Camellia oleifera; Bombus terrestris, flower visiting behavior, pollination efficiency, fruit setting rate